A highly educated Bank of Ireland employee, Funmi Abimbola, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in the Black Axe organised crime group. Judge Pauline Codd stated that he was integral to the group’s money laundering activities, emphasizing the sophisticated nature of their illicit operations.
Abimbola, who possessed a Masters in Human Resources, controlled money mules and accounts for the criminal gang, which engages in various criminal activities globally. The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and Interpol have been investigating the group’s activities, highlighting their involvement in online fraud, human trafficking, drugs, and other criminal enterprises.
Abimbola’s role in money laundering was uncovered during an investigation into a €1 million theft from a solicitor’s office. He was found to have received funds from fraudulent activities and was seen collecting a phone purchased using illicit funds. Abimbola’s arrest, subsequent flight to the UK, and eventual extradition back to Ireland led to a five-year prison sentence, with two years suspended.
Several co-conspirators were also sentenced for their involvement in the crime, reinforcing the law enforcement efforts to combat transnational organized crime.