During the week of action, Gardaí arrested one individual in relation to an alleged people smuggling incident earlier this year and another individual in relation to alleged people smuggling incidents in 2022 and 2023.

These investigations were linked with Operation Lionfish Hurricane, a global initiative led by Interpol. The operation targets the trafficking of cocaine across the three major regions of South America, west Africa and western Europe

17 bank accounts have been blocked under suspicion of being opened under false names.

€1.12 million of cryptocurrency was seized along with €30,000 of other money.

The man, who speaks with an American accent, was arrested in Cork passport office last month when he was making an application.