An Irish person has been quizzed as part of an investigation into a major Covid 19 fraud operation
An inquiry was launched after a fake order was placed for millions of masks destined for Germany.
German officials contracted a Germany company to purchase 10 million face masks worth around 15 million euro to help in the fight against Covid 19.
The Germany company was put in contact with a Dutch manufacturer through an Irish intermediary, to place an order for 11 million masks worth up to 7.7 million euro.
However the order was made through a fraudulent entity who had cloned the website and email address of the legitimate Dutch company.
A one and a half million euro down payment was made to an Irish bank account based in Roscommon, for the delivery of the first million masks.
In late March, reps from the German and Irish companies met in Amsterdam to inspect and oversee the handover of the shipment – but it never materialised. An investigation was launched and 1.5 million euro has since been frozen in an Irish Bank Account.
An Irish citizen was interviewed last Friday on suspicion of laundering 1.5 million euro
