Agency overview | |
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Formed | April 1, 1996 |
Jurisdiction | Ireland |
Headquarters | Harcourt Square, Dublin, Ireland |
Agency executive | |
Parent agency | Garda Síochána |
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) (formerly Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation/GBFI) – informally known as the Garda Fraud Squad – is a specialised division of Ireland's national police force, the Garda Síochána, that investigates financial crimes. The Bureau operates as part of the Garda Special Crime Operations branch, and works alongside other sections of the force, as well as the external Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), an agency tasked with investigating white-collar crime. The Economic Crime Bureau is responsible for the investigation of financial fraud and other matters of monetary loss through illegal means nationally. It was established in April 1996 and is based at Harcourt Square, Dublin 2. The GNECB is headed by an officer of Detective Chief Superintendent rank, who reports to the Assistant Commissioner of Special Crime Operations.
The Economic Crime Bureau investigates serious and complex cases of commercial fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, cybercrime, cheque and payment card fraud, counterfeit currency, advance fee fraud, and breaches of the Companies Acts and competition law. As an investigative unit, all members are experienced investigators, and include trained financial, legal and computer specialists, such as forensic accountants.
The GNECB is divided into a number of operational units with a Detective Superintendent or Detective Inspector in charge of each specialist area;