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SIGNIFICANT PLAYER

Major update after pilot arrested over €8.1m drug seizure as cops probe Kinahan cartel link and identify ‘new targets’

“Last week’s arrests will cause the Kinahans and The Family major problems in international circles because the suspects will no longer be able to work for other gangs.”

• Published: 7:00, 4 Dec 2023

A PILOT arrested after the seizure of €8.1m worth of heroin last week is classified as one of Europe’s main drug traffickers.

As the Hungarian suspect in his 60s continues to be questioned by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau over the huge haul, we can reveal that Europol identified him as a “significant” player in Europe’s narcotics trade.

Investigators suspect that he has been working for the Kinahan cartel and The Family drugs gangs from Ireland for the last year, but also narco mobs in Italy, Spain, Holland, the Balkans and in the Middle East.

They believe his role is to fly shipments of heroin, cocaine and cannabis to different destinations across Europe.

But his suspected enterprises are now over after his arrest by the GNDOCB in a joint operation with Revenue at Weston Airport last week.

He was lifted after flying in from mainland Europe. Investigators suspect he was about to fly to another location at the time of his arrest.

One of his closest associates – who’s also regarded as a major drug trafficker by law enforcement agencies across Europe – also remains in custody.

He was arrested after a car was stopped in the Kildare area.

Gardai believe the shipment was arranged by Daniel Kinahan’s gang in Dubai and Spain, with ‘The Family’ taking responsibility for distributing the drugs to the Irish market.

One investigator told us: “Both of these men are significant international drug traffickers.

“They are known to Europol and law enforcement agencies across Europe due to their involvement with transnational crime gangs.

“The Family are now the new primary targets for Gardai as they are the principal heroin dealers in Ireland.

“Last week’s arrests will cause the Kinahans and The Family major problems in international circles.”

PROBLEMS FOR THE KINAHANS

The seizure was welcomed by Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly from the Gardai’s Organised and Serious Crime branch.

The senior officer said: “This is a hugely significant seizure of heroin, and the importance of disrupting criminal networks supplying this type of drug into our communities has been reinforced by the recent wave of overdoses in Dublin city centre.

“Worldwide, law enforcement agencies are seeing an increasing use of general aviation (non-commercial flights) to smuggle drugs.

“This operation shows the importance of multi-agency co-operation, in this case between An Garda Síochána, Irish Customs and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC-N) in Lisbon, Portugal.

“I wish to commend the dedication and professionalism of all the personnel involved in this complex operation”.