An alleged senior member of a criminal gang in Ireland was arrested at a restaurant following a police operation.
Dublin man Liam Byrne, 42, is believed to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group (OCG), more commonly known as the Kinahan Cartel. Byrne was arrested on Sunday, June 4 in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members. Byrne had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai on May 26.
Byrne was the second suspected member of the crime group arrested in the past week. Jack Kavanagh, 22, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, was arrested by officers from the Spanish National Police last Tuesday, May 30 at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey.
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Kavanagh's dad Thomas "Bomber" Kavanagh was previously jailed for 21 years for conspiring to import millions of pounds worth of drugs. Byrne and Kavanagh junior were arrested on suspicion of firearms offences.
The arrests follow a National Crime Agency (NCA) intelligence-led investigation supported by the Spanish National Police and officers from An Garda Siochana in Ireland. The NCA obtained Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TACA) warrants after EncroChat messages showed they were believed to be involved in the supply and acquisition of firearms. They are currently in custody while extradition proceedings continue.
Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations at the National Crime Agency, said: "This investigation is part of the NCA’s ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group. Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences.
"We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide."
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