Posted by Kinahan cartel investigated as possible clients after massive cocaine seizure
Sources have told The Irish Mirror that gardai suspect the notorious Clan del Golfo owned the seized cocaine – which would have been worth as much as €500 million on the streets
- 06:00, 28 SEP 2023
- Updated10:08, 28 SEP 2023
MV Matthew docked as search ongoing
Colombia’s biggest and most dangerous drugs cartel was behind the massive cocaine consignment seized off the west coast by the Army Ranger Wing, investigators believe.
Sources have told The Irish Mirror that gardai suspect the notorious Clan del Golfo owned the seized cocaine – which would have been worth as much as €500m on the streets.
And we have also established that the Kinahan cartel are now being investigated as possible clients in Ireland for a portion of the massive shipment – most of which was destined for Britain and Europe.
Garda Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly – who led the stunning operation – conceded yesterday that several Irish gangs would have had the capability of being involved in the scam, including the cartel led by Daniel Kinahan (46).
Mr Kelly said: “There are a number of groups within our country, a number of organised criminal groups who have direct links to South America.
“They actively work with other organised crime groups. So there are a number of different entities that will have the capability (including) the group that’s referred to as the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.
“I’m obviously not going to talk about which group we think is behind this at the moment, because it’s still a live operation.”
Sources, however, said it was likely to have been the Kinahan cartel. Sources say the Kinahans – who are hiding out in Dubai – are one of the main focuses of the Garda investigation into the dramatic seizure.
They have strong links with South American cartels – and have the contacts to be part of consortiums of gangs working together to bring in a monster haul – bought from the Clan del Golfo.
The Clan, which is largely made up of former right-wing paramilitaries, makes hundreds of millions of dollars a year from the cocaine trade – but lost a huge chunk of their profits when 20 ARW operators stormed the ship they were using to smuggle cocaine on Wednesday afternoon.
The Irish Mirror has established that the seizure is just one of more than a dozen consignments the Clan sends to Europe and America every year – but not every one makes it through.
Just last year, Italian cops seized 4.3 tonnes of their cocaine in the north east of the country – worth more than €200m. And the cartel, which boasts more than 1200 armed members, suffered another setback in 2022 when leader Dairo Antonio Usuga David was captured and sent to the United States for trial, where he pleaded guilty and was locked up for 45 years.
Assistant Commissioner Kelly yesterday said the cartel behind the Irish consignment, seized by a Joint Task Force comprising the Gardai, Defence Forces and Revenue, suffered a major setback.
He said: “This is a huge hit for the gang involved. This will be a significant disruption to the organised criminal groups behind this.
“There is a significant outlay of money involved in getting an operation like this up and running – obviously the purchase of the vessels, there is payment of people involved in it, the corrupting of officials across the globe.
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