‘rattled’ | 

Dublin crime gang ‘The Family’ suffer major blow as €1.5m cocaine and guns seized

Yesterday’s operation will have “rattled” the gang’s leadership, said one source.

Yesterday at 16:21

GUNS and cocaine worth at least €1.5 million have been seized from the country’s second most powerful crime gang in a major intelligence-led operation, Sunday World can reveal.

The swoop, led by officers from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB), targeted members of ‘The Family’ gang, a Dublin criminal outfit second only to the Kinahan cartel in terms of power and influence on the domestic drugs scene.

It is understood that up to 25kg of cocaine and four firearms were seized in Dublin and Kilkenny during a series of raids which began at around 6pm yesterday [Friday] in the capital. Sources confirm there has been four arrests so far.

‘The Family’ gang hail from west Dublin, with its stronghold in the Ballyfermot and Clondalkin areas of the capital. Led by two brothers, they have “risen to dominance” over the past number of years in particular, by taking advantage of the Garda crackdown on the Kinahan cartel by increasing their own drug dealing and other criminal activities.

Sources say that yesterday’s operation against them is “significant” and “will make a big impact” on their criminal enterprise because of intelligence garnered.

‘The Family’ are major targets of the DOCB, the specialist unit established to target the country’s most serious crime gangs.

‘The Family’ “sophisticatedly” operate one of Ireland’s most prolific drug dealing networks and are suspected of making millions of euro from trafficking in drugs, including heroin as well as cocaine.

They have been active players in the country’s drug scene for around two decades.

Their suspected leader, who is aged in his mid-40s, cannot be named here for legal reasons because he is facing serious charges before the courts.

The gang has international contacts, particularly in Turkey and the UK, where they source their heroin for the Irish market.

‘The Family’ gang have been long-term targets for gardaí and have been subject to numerous raids and seizures by the Criminal Assets Bureau, which has searched car dealerships connected to them.

‘The Family’ have also been linked to a number of gun attacks as well as serious assaults linked to the drugs trade.

The gang are making “so much money” from the drugs trade, that they are now laundering tens of millions of euro overseas each year, gardai believe.

Yesterday’s operation will have “rattled” the gang’s leadership, said one source.