A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with allegations of passport fraud at the Passport Office in Dublin.
The man who was detained in Skerries yesterday has since been released without charge, but the woman remains in garda custody.
The investigation began after the Passport Service noticed irregularities in the issuance of 2 passports last May. The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation was immediately called in and a joint investigation was launched.
A criminal inquiry was launched and at around 7am yesterday morning. The man (30) was arrested in Skerries and taken to Balbriggan garda station. He was released without charge early this morning and a file is being prepared for the DPP.
A woman remains in custody
Meanwhile a woman (30) was arrested yesterday afternoon in Dublin and taken to Ballymun garda station as part of the same investigation.
She remains in custody and is being detained under the provisions of section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 as amended. The investigation is on-going.
The man had also been detained under the provisions of section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, as amended.
In a statement issued this morning the Passport Service said it takes the issue of passport fraud very seriously and in the last number of years has strengthened measures to identify and prevent potential fraud.
