Calls for Gardaí, CAB and Revenue to crack down on ‘bogus’ Longford businesses

Longford county councillor and former president of the Longford Chamber of Commerce, Seamus Butler, has called on the Gardaí, CAB, and Revenue to investigate what he described as a growing number of “bogus businesses” within Longford.

Cllr Butler also raised concerns about organised crime gangs (OCGs) operating in Longford and their ties to seemingly legitimate businesses. He alleged that some gangs had “once again re-established a number of new so-called businesses” to facilitate the laundering of proceeds from drug dealing and other illegal activities.

Highlighting what he described as “worrying new trends in the business landscape in Longford Town”, Cllr Butler claimed that while “virtually all businesses and their owners” were once largely known within the local community and consisted predominantly of family-run establishments, there had been a gradual influx of outside entities establishing small businesses whose origins and activities he questioned.

He claimed, “some appear to be just shopfronts with little or no activity apparent. Others trade in goods and services which are a front for other nefarious activities such as drug dealing, exploitation of underage youths and brothel keeping.”

The councillor, who is also himself a businessman, called on authorities to investigate “these bogus businesses” for the well-being of the legitimate businesses and the protection of the wider community.

He said, “These bogus businesses must be investigated, prosecuted and their owners, shadow owners and acolytes brough to justice. I am calling for a combination of the Revenue, the Serious Crime units of the Gardai and CAB to launch a combined effort to have these criminal businesses wiped out in Longford.”

Councillor Butler went on to raise concerns about what he described as organised crime gangs (OCGs) operating in Longford and alleged that some had “once again re-established a number of new so-called businesses” to facilitate the laundering of proceeds from drug dealing and other illegal activities.

The councillor also called for the prosecution of professionals who he alleged were aiding and abetting organised crime gangs by helping them to establish and operate what he described as “faux service businesses”.

He said, “Not only should they (the gangs) once again be targeted by CAB and Revenue but the professionals who are aiding and abetting them to set up and operate these faux service business should be pursued and brought to justice.”