Gardaí auction €1.4m gold bullion seized from Kazakhstani drug gang in Dublin

An Garda Síochána is auctioning gold bullion seized from a Kazakhstani drugs gang that was operating in Ireland.

The main player in the group absconded when he was bailed and is on the run despite facing 10 charges in the Republic, according to The Irish Times.

However, his wife and mother-in-law, who a court was told were afraid of the man, were jailed for their role in the gang’s operations.

The gold, valued at €1.4 million, was seized during intelligence-led searches in Dublin in 2024 by the Dublin Crime Response Team.

An online auction of the gold, run by Wilsons Auctions on behalf of An Garda Síochána, opened at 1pm on Friday and closes at 1pm on Monday.

The items being sold are available for viewing on the company’s website.

Ken Holohan, Detective Inspector based in the Dublin Metropolitan (DMR) said: "Recovering and returning the proceeds of crime is a key part of disrupting organised criminal activity.

"This auction ensures that seized assets are processed transparently, with all funds ultimately going back to the State where they belong."