Kinahan cartel mobster Liam Byrne is facing up to 20 years behind bars – after armed Spanish cops nabbed him on gang charges as he enjoyed a family meal.
British authorities have already been given the go-ahead to hit Dubliner Byrne (42) with firearms offences that carry a sentence of up to 10 years - but we have also established that they want to slap him with more charges. The charges under consideration are understood to include conspiracy to pervert the course of justice – which can carry a jail term of up to seven years.
But it is also possible that the UK authorities will charge Byrne, a key lieutenant of mob boss Daniel Kinahan, with possessing firearms with intent to endanger life. Sentencing guidelines for that offence in the UK are up to 22 years.
Read more: Daniel Kinahan under pressure after key lieutenant Liam Byrne arrested in Majorca
"He is going to be out of circulation for a long time, no matter what he is charged with," a source told. "He is in real trouble. The British don’t mess about."
We have established that Byrne, who is regarded as the head of the organised crime gang that bears his name as well as leading the European drugs importation scam for Daniel Kinahan, is to be charged with conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition over numerous dates and conspiracy to possess automatic weapons and ammunition over numerous dates.
They are serious offences that carry up to 10 years in jail. Much of the evidence comes from cracked Encrochat phones – that the Kinahans and other gangsters were using to communicate with each other.
The operation was cracked two years ago and dozens of criminals have been charged in the UK, under an operation called Venetic.
As well as the conspiracy to possess firearms charges, we have learned that the UK’s National Crime Agency has already been given the go-ahead by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge Byrne – and that an extradition request, known as a Trade and Co-operation Agreement, was sent to Spanish police over him in recent weeks. Crumlin-born Byrne - whose brother David was murdered by the Hutch gang in the bloody attack on the Regency Airport Hotel in north Dublin in February 2016 – was arrested on Sunday in Majorca, as he enjoyed a dinner with family and friends.
The dramatic arrest – seen in photos released by Spanish police – came shortly after Byrne flew into the Spanish sun isle from his bolthole in Dubai, where he and several other Kinahan heads have been in hiding in recent years. Well-placed sources said Byrne’s arrest occurred in Alcudia in the north-east of Majorca.
It was not immediately clear if the Irishman remains in police custody or has already appeared in front of a judge at the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid, which deals with extradition proceedings.
In March it was reported Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard had spent time in Dublin with Liam Byrne’s father, veteran criminal James ‘Jaws’ Byrne.
He was also pictured hanging out with Kinahan cartel foot soldier Nathan ‘Biggie’ Little.
Reports at the time said Gerrard’s teenage daughter Lily-Ella was dating Liam’s son Lee.
Gerrard rang in the New Year in Dubai with his daughter and Lee.
Influencer Lily-Ella’s relationship with the Irish mob boss’ son first surfaced last year.
Steven Gerrard, his daughter, wife and Lee Byrne have no involvement in crime.
Liam, who was named in Dublin’s High Court as the leader of the so-called 'Byrne Organised Crime Group,' is considered to be the de-facto leader of the Kinahan cartel in the UK.
Byrne is believed to have taken over from mobster Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh as the “number two” in the hierarchy of the Kinahan cartel, and leader of its operations in the transporting of drugs across the UK and Ireland.
Kavanagh, who is Liam’s brother-in-law, is currently serving a 21-year sentence for conspiring to import millions of pounds worth of drugs.
A spokesman for Spain’s National Police in Majorca said yesterday: "The arrest was carried out yesterday night/on Sunday night by the National Police’s Madrid-based Fugitives Group and the National Police’s UDYCO group which fights organised crime."
Spanish police released footage of the capture as they confirmed the arrest of a key Kinahan member wanted by Britain.
They didn’t name him in a statement but described him as someone who led a criminal organisation specialising in arms trafficking.
A spokesman for Spain’s National Police in Majorca said: "National Police officers have arrested in Majorca a dangerous Irish fugitive who is a member of the Kinahan clan and was a priority of the UK’s National Crime Agency, for leading a criminal organisation involved in weapons trafficking in the UK.
"The fugitive led the weapons trafficking organisation which bought pistols and submachine guns to then sell to other organisations.
"Many of the weapons were bought with systems that didn’t leave fingerprints to be able to commit crimes and complicate police work.
"Such was the size of the organisation that it received an order from another organisation for 14 firearms in a single go.
"During the NCA’s investigation in Great Britain and Northern Ireland several members of the organisation this man belongs to were arrested for these crimes and for drugs trafficking, and a hideout with several handguns, submachine guns and a large amount of ammunition was discovered.
"The fugitive fled to Dubai after the NCA investigation finished and enough evidence was accumulated against him, and there he continued enjoying a luxury lifestyle and leading the organisation from a distance.
"After a lengthy investigation the NCA discovered the fugitive had recently travelled to Majorca to meet up secretly with his family, and British police contacted the Spanish National Police’s specialist fugitive unit to make inquiries on his whereabouts.
"Officers were able through inquiries to locate a vehicle he could be using.
"After focusing the search on that area, the fugitive was located and arrested."
Byrne, who flew into Majorca on May 26, was arrested on foot of an extradition warrant by the British National Crime Agency – which has been investigating the Dubliner for years as he was based in the Birmingham area.
The NCA said it had been working closely with gardai in the probe, And it also revealed that Jack Kavanagh (22) – a son of Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh (55) who is now serving 21 years after he admitted Kinahan drugs offences in the UK – was also arrested as part of the operation.
Jack Kavanagh, from Tamworth near Birmingham, was arrested in the UK, the NCA said.
The organisation said: "Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, who is thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members.
"He had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai, UAE, on the 26 May.
"Another suspected member of the crime group, Jack Kavanagh, 22, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, was arrested by officers from the Spanish National Police last Tuesday (30 May) at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey.
"The arrests follow an 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."
Gardai also welcomed the arrests last night.
Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly, who heads up the force’s fight against organised crime, said: "The arrest of Liam Byrne is a particularly significant development in the efforts of international law enforcement to dismantle the operations of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.
"These arrests are a demonstration of An Garda Siochana’s continued cooperation with our colleagues in the National Crime Agency."
Byrne may not be extradited to the UK for several months.
He has the right to oppose the move and could go to the courts to halt it.
If he accepts the move he is likely to be in Britain within a fortnight – but if he fights it, he could delay it by as much as six months.
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