Gardaí have identified 28 suspects that are believed to be involved in Pandemic Unemployment Payment fraud offences.
An investigation, that has been ongoing since May, has lead to the identification of a suspected international crime group that involves people based in Ireland and other jurisdictions who engaged in both identity and fraud offences to obtain the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
A number of searches have taken place in Limerick and Clare where a number of items including documentation have been seized.
An investigation is currently ongoing by gardaí, the Department of Social Protection, as well as Customs and Excise officials