BUREAU PROBE INTO PUBS BACKED BY DRUG MONEY

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) are investigating a dozen pubs and
hotels nationwide which they suspect were purchased or operated with
profits from drug operations.

Two pubs have already been seized and sold as a result of the
crackdown on the residential property holdings and business outlets
being used by crime gangs to `launder' crime-generated cash.

Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) President, John Mansworth,
admitted he was aware of the investigation but refused to comment on
the premises involved.

The VFI boss vowed that all his members will co-operate fully, warning
that criminals are not wanted within Ireland's traditionally family
run pub industry.

Mr Mansworth pointed out that only ``a tiny fraction'' of Irish pubs
are involved in the probe. One local Cork newspaper has claimed that
two leading pubs in the city are key targets of the Bureau's
investigation.

A CAB spokesman warned last night that they do not comment on on-going
investigations. But senior Garda sources indicated that the purchase
and running of various pubs are being examined.

CAB has already shut down and sold two pubs in the west and
north-west.

It's understood the CAB probe was underpinned by mounting concerns
that a handful of unscrupulous businessmen have agreed to `front' pub
purchases where the cash was supplied by leading criminal gangs.

CAB fear that pubs or hotels which utilise door admission fees have
been particularly targetted by crime-lords given the subsequent
potential for `laundering' cash.

CAB is also understood to be reviewing recent land speculation deals,
particularly those involving known criminals.

John Gilligan the Dubliner in custody in Britain fighting a garda
extradition order for the 1996 murder of Veronica Guerin is understood
to have concluded several property deals in Munster since 1991 in the
names of either companies controlled by him or close business associates.

One Cork crime family is reported to have invested in various pubs in
recent years with one of their major purchases now involved in the CAB
probe.