After a massive operation on Thursday, Gardai have made five arrests after the arrested persons targeted social welfare fraud.
the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) led a multi-agency operation, which looked at a number of premises in the Tullamore area of Offaly.
The operation involved officers from GNIB, the Department of Social Protection and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
This investigation arose as a result of ongoing multi-agency cooperation between the Departments.
The Departments were able to identify suspected abuses of Department of Social Welfare and Social Welfare fraud.
The entire search covered 22 separate business premises as they were under unannounced inspections and five men, aged from 38 to 47 years, were arrested.
The arrests relate to offences contrary to Section 12 of the Immigration Act, 2004 and Section 2(1) of The Employment Permits Act 2003, says the Gardai.
All the five men that were arrested were charged with these offences and bailed to appear before Tullamore District Court on October 13 2021.
Investigations are still going on.