KINAHAN’S €1BILLION DRUGS & GUNS EMPIRE
CAB in bid to sell off luxury items seized from criminal gang
THE murderous Kinahan cartel runs a €1billion drugs and guns empire, a court was told yesterday.
Criminal Assets Bureau bosses blew the lid on the crime gang as they applied to sell off luxury cars, property and jewellery seized from its alleged foot soldiers.
Liam Byrne, brother of Regency Hotel shooting victim David, was named as a “trusted lieutenant” of Daniel Kinahan – son of Dubai-based gang boss Christy.
A judge reserved her decision on whether CAB can sell the items seized.
THE Criminal Assets Bureau wants to sell luxury cars, property and jewellery it says are linked to the Kinahan cartel, the High Court heard yesterday.
The application is against people it says are linked to Liam Byrne, head of a gang in the Crumlin/drimnagh area of Dublin which is central to the feud with the Hutch mob which has resulted in 14 murders.
The court heard he is a “trusted lieutenant” of Daniel Kinahan, son of gang boss Christy, who is now living in Dubai.
Lawyers for Byrne, his partner Simone Mcenroe, and his close associate Sean Mcgovern, told the court yesterday that all three would not be participating in the proceedings in any substantive way.
Last year, the court rejected legal aid applications by Mcgovern and a number of others who claimed ownership of the property, which originally included 29 vehicles, a motorcycle, houses in Crumlin and Clondalkin, jewellery and cash.
Separate proceedings in relation to a house in Crumlin, which Byrne’s sister Maria says she owns and which CAB claims also comes from the proceeds of crime, were adjourned.
CAB said the associates of Byrne act as a network and front for him.
It’s claimed their wealthy lifestyles are not in keeping with legitimate sources of income.
Counsel for CAB Remy Farrell said they are involved with the Kinahan gang which is behind a €1billion international drugs and firearms trafficking business.
Ms Justice Carmel Stewart reserved her decision after hearing only from Mr Farrell.
There was no opposition on behalf of any of the respondents to the application to sell the assets under proceeds of crime legislation.
Mr Farrell said a company called “LS Active” car sales, which was originally a registered firm but is now a sole trader business in Byrne’s name.
He claimed it is simply a means to allow him and his associates to launder the substantial sums that came from drug dealing. He added the vehicles were used as “a currency to transfer wealth”.
Mr Farrell said: “Central to it is LS Active car sales and the irony is that whatever else is said about it, it was not in any sense active.”
Counsel added there is very little buying and selling but the business maintained high-end vehicles which “were handed out to people involved in criminality presumably for the purpose of payment”.
The vehicles are normally registered in the names of people who do not have use of them.
But when the drivers are stopped by gardai, he told the court the explanation is usually they have them on a “sale and return” basis to another garage. Mr Farrell said CCTV footage of LS Active over a 29-day period showed almost “no activity consistent with car dealership”.
He added: “Presumably, the business is used more as a clubhouse for those involved.”
Counsel said the court will be satisfied from a business analysis it is simply incapable of continuing.
He told the court a striking aspect of it was this firm was used to fund other activities including that it spends, even though it is involved in car sales, “so much” on international travel. About the house in Crumlin owned by Mcgovern – who was injured in the Regency Hotel shooting in 2016 when Byrne’s brother David was killed – counsel said he has given no explanation as to how he acquired it mortgage-free despite being unemployed.
He paid €150,000 in cash for the house which was routed from a trust company in Mauritius to a bank here.
Mr Mcgovern had also claimed ownership of a Rolex watch and €10,000 in cash.
It’s a means to allow him and his associates to launder sums from dealing REMY FARRELL HIGH COURT YESTERDAY