Plan to target £14m crime assets

The plan aims to recover £14m in criminal assets over two years

Plans to recover £14m in criminal assets have been unveiled by the Organised Crime Task Force.

Paul Goggins, chair of the force and NI security minister, said it would send a "clear message to organised criminals".

"It underlines the determination of Northern Ireland's law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs," he said.

Half of any money recovered will help fund crime-fighting initiatives across Northern Ireland.

'Realistic targets '

Mr Goggins has challenged law enforcement agencies to recover at least £6.2m during 2008/09 and not less than £7.8m the following year.

"Assets recovery is everyone's responsibility and working together through the Organised Crime Task Force, we want to build on our successes over recent years," he said.

"I have set challenging but realistic targets of what can be recovered over the next two years and I believe that with the expertise we have in Northern Ireland, we can exceed that £14m figure.

"We will then give the law enforcement agencies half of that money so that they can step up their fight against organised criminals and develop innovative crime-fighting schemes across Northern Ireland."