Natalie and Eduard Chiper are being pursued by CAB in a legal case after criminal charges against them were dropped over an almost €1 million drugs haul in 2019.
It emerged last week that ‘The White House’ in Co Louth townland, seven kilometres north of Drogheda is the subject of a Proceeds of Crime Act action launched last year.
Situated on a narrow cul-de-sac and surrounded by a leylandii hedge, the two-storey house is in a very private setting.
With four bedrooms and 3,400 square feet of space, it also boasts a double staircase in the hall, according to the original planning permission made by a previous owner.
Eduard Chiper lodged a second planning application in 2015 to add a garage to the property which was granted.
The wrought-iron gates and railings at the front of the property would now cost close to €20,000 to manufacture, according to a gate-maker consulted by the Sunday World.
Four-bed detached houses in the countryside surrounding Drogheda are currently being sold with asking prices of around the €600,000 mark.
The last property sold in the area went for €505,000 in 2018, according to the Price Property Register.
Re Natalie and Eduard Chiper. The house owned by the Chipers which is the subject of a CAB application. Pic taken 23-1-2024
In the High Court last week it was heard that a forensic accountant had been engaged, they had agreed to allow documents to be inspected and that the case was “moving forward,” according to counsel for the couple
However, counsel for CAB said no replying affidavits had yet been received and that to say there was “talks” with is “misconceived.”
Counsel for the couple said that they had wanted access to CAB documents, but Judge Alex Owens said the forensic accountant should be able go ahead with the available information.
Additional affidavits can follow if needed, he said.
The couple had been arrested in January 2019 after gardaí found €940,000 of cannabis herb in a County Louth premises.
The Sunday World previously reported how they both spent time in custody before getting bail, the case against them was later dropped by the Director of Prosecutions.
In 2019 the DPP withdrew charges against the husband and wife who were alleged to have been in possession of the cannabis.
They had been charged in January that year with being in possession of the drugs with the intent to sell or supply under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
They were also charged with simple possession of drugs under Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, it had been heard in court hearings at the time.
The couple were arrested after a planned search of the premises was carried out by detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, assisted by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau and officers from the Co Louth division.
The couple were remanded in custody for a time before they were granted bail after independent sureties lodged large sums of money.
The charges were struck out at Drogheda District Court.
At an earlier bail hearing a judge approved two independent sureties totalling €30,000 to allow Natalie Chiper’s release on bail.
At that stage she had already been in custody for four weeks at the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy.
Under the Proceeds of Crime the Criminal Assets Bureau can seek to have property of people declared as being bought with crime cash.
Targets of a CAB action, who may have no criminal convictions, must provide evidence of legitimate income to show how the assets were bought.
The case against the Chipers is currently at the Section 3 stage to have their assets declared the proceeds of crime.
If CAB wins such as order it can move onto Section 4, which involves a receiver being appointed with the power to take over the property and to sell it off.
Last year saw properties belonging to Ross Browning, the Kinahan Cartel’s man in Ireland, being taken over by CAB which have yet to go on the market.
Meanwhile in November the “last refuge” Co Wexford house of Kinahan Cartel drug-dealer Barry Fowler and his partner Lorna Palmer sold for €266,000 in a five-minute auction.