Justice minister Michael McDowell confirmed that a robbery took place at the home of CAB's chief bureau officer, chief superintendent Felix McKenna, on 28 March.

McKenna's car and his briefcase were taken during the burglary.

Both items were later recovered, although nobody has been arrested in relation to the incident.

Gardai are investigating if the robbery could be related to other recent incidents in which criminals have targeted individual gardai after an intensified crackdown against drug gangs.

Gardai do not believe that any confidential details in relation to any CAB investigations were obtained by those who burgled McKenna's home.

"I am assured by the Garda authorities that no criminal investigation or prosecution will be compromised as a result of this incident, " McDowell told Labour's Joe Costello in the Dail last week.

McKenna is one of the highest-ranking law enforcement officers in the state.

Since its inception in 1996, over 140m in both cash and other assets has been secured by CAB from those involved in criminal activity.