Four men linked to Kinahan gang arrested after gardaí seize €1m cash

FOUR men with links to the Kinahan crime gang were arrested after the seizure of more than €1m in cash yesterday.

Gardaí from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped two vehicles off the Clonard Road in Wexford town at around 10.45am where a large quantity of cash was found and three men, aged 29, 38 and 47, were arrested on suspicion of money laundering. A fourth man was later arrested and charged with money laundering.

Further searches in Dublin resulted in other cash hauls being recovered by gardaí. All four men are being held in Wexford Garda Station.

A source familiar with the investigation confirmed to the Mail on Sunday that the money belonged to the Kinahan crime cartel.

‘Upwards of €1m of Kinahan money was found. It was a significant discovery and began when gardaí from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped two vehicles,’ the source said.

‘Three men aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested on suspicion of money laundering. As part of the same operation, gardaí later searched a house in Ballyfermot. A lot of money was found there too. We’re talking upwards of €1m in total, a significant hit for gardaí and a blow to the Kinahans.’

Earlier this week, gardaí launched a major blitz on the Kinihan crime gang after they raided seven properties linked to the gang, including two belonging to suspected hitmen.

Cash, large quantities of drugs and encrypted mobile phones were recovered during the searches.