from the bureau's establishment in october 1996 up to end of 2011 the bureau successfully froze over €70m worth of criminals' assets. it also collected €137m of the €200m demanded in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties. cab also made social welfare savings of almost €6m and recovered over €2m in fraudulently claimed welfare. according to the annual report for 2017, the total amount of funds restrained was in excess of €4.8 million. however, one case currently under investigation accounts for approximately €3.5 million. tax recovered by the bureau during 2017 amounted to €2.374m from fifty one individuals / entities and as a result of actions by social welfare bureau officers, a total sum of €319,720.31 was returned to the exchequer in 2017.