Nero to zero
Kinahan’s fury as pal ignored low-key money launder order
He held a number of high-profile events with celebs... it was brazen
THE Kinahan cartel is furious at locked-up gangster Johnny Morrissey for going against its orders on laundering drug money, we can reveal.
Spanish intelligence sources have told the Irish Mirror how mob boss Daniel Kinahan blames him for drawing law enforcement’s attention through his high-profile position at the Nero Vodka company.
Morrissey, 62, was arrested by Spain’s Guardia Civil in September after investigators claimed he laundered €200million for the Kinahans in the previous 18-month period.
The gang still have the major headache of replacing the thug who it is claimed was essential to the business.
Mancunian Morrissey was believed to be key to its European operations particularly after Kinahan, 45, his father Christy, 64, and 41-year-old brother Christopher fled the Costa del Sol for Dubai in 2017.
Now fresh Spanish intelligence has revealed how the Kinahans had given Morrissey instructions to launder their money discreetly.
The gang have done so through businesses such as shops, bars, nightclubs, motorways and property firms.
However, Morrissey allegedly ran the operation while boss of the high-profile Nero Vodka company.
Sources explained everything about
the firm ran counter to the “cautionary” approach the gang would usually take. Morrissey and his wife Nicola, Nero Vodka’s CEO, were photographed with celebrities and threw lavish bashes while promoting the product.
It also held various launches including a Gladiator-themed event at Marbella’s five-star Puente Romano Hotel.
Last year, Nero Vodka sponsored the gangster movie Rise Of The Footsoldier 4 in Marbella and was also helped fund the 16th Marbella International Film Festival.
Morrissey’s wife had given interviews about how the business was set to expand into the US.
She was also arrested with him but was later released.
But the Kinahans believe Morrissey’s
self-proclaimed “success” – in a business which lost €345,000 last year – drew unwanted attention from crime fighters.
A Spanish source said: “Morrissey was given specific instructions to carry out money laundering in the typical Kinahan cartel fashion which is low profile and diversifying into all these different types of businesses.
“But Morrissey went off and launched Nero Vodka and held a number of highprofile launches with celebrities.
“It was so brazen to think that it would not draw attention.”
In April, Morrissey’s operations were listed by the US Treasury as a front for the Kinahan cartel when a
€5million bounty was issued
for bosses Daniel, Christy Snr and Christy Jnr. Morrissey is being held in Alhaurin de la Torre prison near Malaga and could spend up to two years on remand ahead of a trial for allegedly helping the cartel launder more than €200million.
But despite his downfall, sources told the Irish Mirror they do not expect Morrissey – who used to flaunt his lavish lifestyle on social media – to turn on the Kinahans in a bid to save himself.
At the time of his arrest, Spanish cops claimed Kinahan’s sidekick helped launder up to €350,000 in drug profits every day for 18 months.
It is alleged the money was moved throughout the world using an established money transfer system called Hawala. The method of moving money involves a network of brokers.
It is known to have been adopted by criminal gangs who use code numbers or tokens like bank notes torn in half to prove cash is due.
In April, the US Treasury said Morrissey worked for the cartel for “several years”.
Outlining his role for the mob, the spokesman added: “Including as an enforcer, and facilitates international drug shipments for the organization from South America.
“John Morrissey is also involved in money laundering.”