Locked-up Kinahan goon Johnny Morrissey is caged at a high-security Spanish jail where his cartel bosses were once imprisoned.
Alleged gangster Morrissey, an Irish passport holder, was admitted to Alhaurin de la Torre near Malaga following his court appearance last week. He now faces spending up to two years on remand in prison ahead of a potential trial for allegedly helping the cartel launder more than €200million in the past 18 months alone.
Alhaurin de la Torre is where cartel boss Daniel Kinahan, his father Christy, 64, and brother Christopher, 41, were held following their arrests by Spanish cops in May 2010 after a probe into drugs and money laundering. It has also housed the likes of killer Eric “Lucky” Wilson and wife killer Dermot McArdle in the past.
Read more: Suspected Kinahan 'enforcer' bragged about shooting skills in series of videos
The nick was once dubbed The Celeb Prison after a number of well-known people were sent there over a corruption scandal. The prison is surrounded by a three metre high wall topped with barbed wire which is alarmed to alert the Guardia Civil of any trouble.
Inside, its facilities put many Irish jails to shame, as it is equipped with its own swimming pool, squash courts and indoor football arena. Despite this, it suffers from the same violence-related issues as other penitentiaries.
At the beginning of August, a lag was disciplined for beating up a warden. Prison officer unions said the incident shows “the frequency with which violent and regrettable episodes occur in Alhaurin de la Torre and the need to immediately assess security methods there”.
The jail has also recorded the most incidents in Spain of attempts to introduce drugs and mobile phones in via drone. The Spanish Professional Association of Prison Officers has warned that “we are concerned that a weapon may be dropped in and this may see staff attacked without even knowing of its existence”.
It’s a far cry from the luxury lifestyle the Kinahan enforcer lived before he was arrested last week. The 62-year-old had a champagne lifestyle and he and his wife wed at a five-star Dundas Castle near Edinburgh in 2016.
The couple were lifted by Spanish officers last week at their bolthole in near Malaga, although Nicola was released after a court appearance. A number of properties were also raided as part of the probe into Morrissey’s activities.
Read more: Kinahan cartel money man had just returned to Spain a fortnight before arrest
The massive operation involved the gardai and the UK’s National Crime Agency. Spanish cops claim Daniel Kinahan’s sidekick helped launder up to €350,000 in drug profits every day for 18 months. It is alleged that the money was moved throughout the world using an ancient money transfer system called Hawala.
The method of moving money involves a network of brokers. It is known to have been adopted by criminal gangs who use code numbers or tokens like banknotes torn in half to prove cash is due.
In April, Morrissey was named in the sanctions placed on the Kinahan cartel by the US Government. It said Morrissey has “worked for the [Kinahan crime gang] for several years, including as an enforcer, and facilitates international drug shipments for the organisation from South America. John Morrissey is also involved in money laundering.”
It added: “John Morrissey, who outwardly serves as the Nero Drinks’ brand ambassador, is heavily invested in Nero Drinks and has given a significant portion of the business to Daniel Kinahan to compensate for loads of drugs seized by law enforcement. Morrissey controls and operates Nero Drinks through his wife, the primary shareholder, who is a front for his interests.”
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