‘person of interest’ | 

Kinahan cartel target arrested in major drugs raid on Hutch crime gang

A coordinated planned search of a residential address in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 was also conducted

Yesterday at 19:50

A criminal who survived a number of murder plots by the Kinahan cartel is one of three men in garda custody tonight after the seizure of €2 million worth of drugs in west Dublin earlier today.

Sources have confirmed that the operation was targeting members of the Hutch organised crime gang.

The 35-year-old arrested man became a prime target for the Kinahan cartel after they received information that he was directing operations for the rival Hutch mob in the north-inner city during the brutal feud between the two organisations that broke out in 2015 and led to the Regency Hotel bloodbath in 2016.

He has more than 30 previous convictions for offences including drug dealing, serious assault and other crimes.

A close older associate of the notorious Hutch gangster is also in custody in relation to the bust – he is from the Blessington Street area of the capital’s northside.

Sources confirmed that the third man in custody is originally from Asia but has been based in Ireland for some time.

It has been confirmed that the former cartel target, who is originally from the North Clarence Street area, of the capital was the “person of the most interest” in the garda investigation which led to today’s massive seizure, according to sources.

A key associate of the Hutch faction, the 35-year-old convicted drug dealer was with Patrick ‘Patsy’ Hutch, who is a brother of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, when he and Patsy were lucky to escape with their lives when they were shot at after being lured to a “meeting” in Ballymun on the night of November 29, 2018.

This was the third time that the violent drug dealer escaped death after the deadly feud began with the cartel but is the last known attempt on his life.

A number of members of Kinahan cartel ‘sub cells’ are serving lengthy jail sentences in relation to detailed plots to murder the arrested criminal who became a figure of hatred to the international crime mob when the feud raged on Dublin’s streets.

Last night senior sources described the Blanchardstown raid as “hugely significant” and said it was proof that the Hutch organised crime gang is still one of the most active players in the capital’s drugs scene.

The 35-year-old was closely linked to the last feud murder victim Jason ‘Buda’ Molyneux who was shot dead in January, 2018.

He was shot up to 13 times at close range just a short distance from his home six years ago with his mother witnessing flashes from the fatal gunshots, an inquest into Buda’s killing heard this week.

He was killed after leaving his home in Dublin’s north inner city to visit a friend in the nearby James Larkin House flats complex off the North Strand around 9pm on January 30, 2018.

The three men were arrested today on suspicion of drug trafficking after cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis jellies worth €2 million were seized in Dublin this afternoon

Officers attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) intercepted two vehicles shortly after 5pm in the Blanchardstown area of Dublin 15.

A coordinated planned search of a residential address in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 was also conducted.

During the course of the operation cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis jellies with an estimated street value of €2 million was seized. All drugs are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

A garda spokesperson said: “Three males (aged 35, 40 and 53 years) were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and are currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Dublin.

“Investigations are ongoing.”