Some 50 properties have been seized as part of a major investigation into the affairs of an alleged Northern Ireland-based drugs dealer with alleged links to loyalist paramilitaries.
It is understood the target of the investigation lives in Co Antrim and owns apartments in the south of France and Dublin.
His properties, worth an estimated £4.8 million (€6.9 million), are now under the control of an interim receiver appointed by the High Court in Belfast.
The seizure followed an 18-month long undercover investigation that was the biggest carried out by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) since it was set up in February 2003.
The receiver, who has not been named, will carry out a full independent investigation before submitting a report to the High Court in Belfast.
Two of the man's companies and eight personal and company bank accounts have also been frozen.
The target of the investigation has alleged links with the paramilitary Loyalist Volunteer Force, and has been investigated several times by police tackling drugs smuggling, but has never been charged.