Businessman busted with €300,000 in raid targeting ‘Penguin’ mob
AN UNDER-the-radar businessman has been busted by detectives investigating the drugs-trafficking network of crimelord George ‘The Penguin’ Mitchell.
The 53-year-old remained in Garda custody last night after officers seized €300,000 in cash in his posh home in the Whitehall area of the capital’s northside on Tuesday night.
“This man is not well known to gardaí but is suspected of being involved for years in the Penguin’s money-laundering schemes – moving tens of millions of euro on that organisation’s behalf,” a senior source said.
“On the outside seems to be a completely respectable businessman but the truth is very different and he had been under surveillance for a number of months.” Gardaí yesterday announced details of their latest major operation against international crime gangs, intercepting a vehicle on Collins Avenue in Dublin 9 and seizing cash of around €400,000. Two men aged 53 and 29 were arrested and are currently detained at Raheny and Clontarf garda stations, pursuant to organised crimerelated legislation.
“Additional searches were undertaken at premises in Dublin and Meath with assistance by the Garda dog unit resulting in another seizure of cash, believed to be in the region of €300,000,” a spokesman said.
“A quantity of what is believed to be controlled drugs, including cocaine and MDMA tablets, with an estimated street value of €30,000 was also seized.
“A male, aged 22 years, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of involvement in drug trafficking-related offences and is currently detained at Ballymun garda station, pursuant to drug trafficking-related legislation.”