The Kinahan cartel carried out “at least 20” murders across Europe and used specialised crime cells to kill rivals, a new report has claimed.
The study, published yesterday, shows the drugs gang is driving worsening levels of violence across the continent.
The investigation was carried out by Europol and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
The research also said the violence has reached such levels in the Netherlands and Belgium that lawyers, government ministers, police and journalists had been targeted.
The Kinahan cartel has also been described as “very large wholesalers” of cocaine with significant amounts stored in “EU distribution hubs”.
The gang is also responsible for killing at least 20 people as part of their ruthless drugs trade.
The report states: “Violence and homicides in several EU Member States have been connected to the notorious Kinahan clan from Dublin, Ireland.
“Conflict between the Kinahans and rival groups has led to the murder of at least 20 people in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain.
“The trial of some Kinahan clan members revealed that specialised crime cells were established in order to kill rivals.”
The cartel is headed by Dubliner Daniel Kinahan, 44. The US Government have sanctioned him, his brother Christopher Jnr, 41, and their father Christy Snr, 65.
A reward of $5million has been offered for information leading to their arrests.
The findings of the report which give an in-depth look at the cocaine and methamphetamine markets, show how “collaboration between criminal groups worldwide is creating new security threats and expanding the market”.
It also reveals record amounts of cocaine – 215 tonnes were seized in Europe in 2020, which is an increase of 6% on 2019 which suggests a high availability of the drug.
While three countries, Belgium, Holland and Spain account for around three quarters of the European total.
Europe’s cocaine retail market is also estimated to be worth in the region of €10.6billion.
The report also shows how most of the cocaine manufacturing still takes place in Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. However, processing is now taking place inside Europe and mainly in Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands.
Investigators involved in the report also stated there is a “worrying” increase in the production of cocaine with Latin American and European gangs working in partnership.
While Mexican cartels are also increasingly involved in the supply chain into Europe.
The agencies involved are concerned over the possible emergence of a new “inexpensive” smokable cocaine product – different to crack common in South America and Europe.
This has been accompanied by a rise in violence, including murders, shootings, bombings, arsons, kidnappings, torture and intimidation by a number of gangs including the Kinahan cartel.
Up to 33 drug related murders in the Costa del Sol took place between 2018 and 2021 which included Irish nationals.
The murder of Gary Hutch in 2015 resulted in Kinahan/Hutch feud – the largest in the history of the state – which left 18 men dead.
The Regency shooting in 2016, which resulted in the murder of David Byrne, sparking the feud, happened in retaliation of the murder of Gary Hutch.
Several members of the Hutch family, who are predominantly based in Dublin’s north inner city have since been murdered.
Top journalist Peter R de Vries was also referenced in the report after he was shot dead in July 2021 in Amsterdam and his murder is linked to an ongoing gangland trial.
Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle said: “The trade in illegal drugs continues to dominate serious and organised crime in the EU, and nearly 40% of the criminal networks operating at the international level reported to Europol are active in drug trafficking.
“Fighting this illegal trade is a key priority for Europol and the EU.
“Today’s analysis supports us in understanding the market dynamics and is crucial for formulating effective law enforcement responses.”
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