FOUR HELD AS GARDAI SEIZE ‘KINAHAN €1.2M’
Men arrested over money laundering offences after officers stop two cars
THE Kinahan cartel was dealt another blow yesterday after gardai seized up to €1.2million believed to be linked to the gang.
Officers tackling organised crime uncovered huge sums after stopping two vehicles off the Clonard Road, Co Wexford, at 10.45am.
Three men, aged 47, 38 and 29, were arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences.
Another man was arrested and a large cash seizure was made in a raid later in the evening.
A Garda statement said: “Gardai have arrested a fourth man in relation to the targeting of organised criminal activity. “Officers attached to Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau conducted further searches in Wexford this evening and seizure a further amount of cash. “The man was arrested on suspicion of Money Laundering offences in Wexford and is currently detaine at Wexford Garda Station. “All four prisoners remain in custody. “It is estimated that a total of €1.2 million euro was seized today in relation to the three searches.” It’s the second blow of the week for the cartel, which is headed up by boss Daniel Kinahan, the son of kingpin Christy “Dapper Don” Kinahan.
On Wednesday, gardai seized hi-tech anti-spying gadgets and phones during a number of raids.
The gangsters have been struggling to get away from the prying eyes of garda spooks and have attempted to make their communication more secure.
It is not the first time officers have seized encrypted phones, scuppering the
cartel’s communications. A 24-year-old man was also arrested in relation to drug trafficking offences over suspected heroin possession. He was later released without charge and a file is being prepared for the information of the Director of Public Prosecutions. A total of seven properties were hit during the raid. Gardai carried out followup searches in Dublin following the Wexford discovery resulting in another huge sum of cash being seized. Assistant Commissioner John O’driscoll said: “Depriving organised crime groups of the proceedings of their criminal activity is a priority for the Garda Siochana.”