- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Murcia Today Alicante Today
Date Published: 10/09/2024
Cartel kingpin set to open addiction centre on the Costa del Sol
Johnny Morrissey, alleged Kinahan gang money man, plans to convert one of his lavish Marbella properties
In a move that’s stunned the Costa del Sol, Johnny Morrissey, allegedly a key figure in the notorious Kinahan cartel, is set to open a wellness and recovery centre for drug addicts and alcoholics in Marbella.
The news comes just weeks after “Johnny Cash” Morrissey was released on bail, having been accused of laundering more than 200 million euros in drug money for the violent gang.
Morrissey, a 62-year-old Manchester-raised expat, was arrested in September 2022 at his lavish villa in Marbella, along with his partner Nicola. The couple was taken into police custody, with Morrissey facing allegations of being the main money man for the Kinahan cartel.
However, Morrissey was recently released on a 60,000-euro bail due to lack of evidence against him.
Despite claims by the Spanish police that the investigation is still very much “live”, Morrissey and his wife are pushing forward with their new venture, converting one of their multi-million-euro properties into a clinic. The couple claims the centre will provide a safe and supportive environment for those struggling with addiction, but many are left wondering if this is just another front for the cartel’s illicit activities.
The site of the new recovery and wellness centre
Morrissey’s past is certainly chequered. The former bouncer was once the main owner of Nero Vodka, a popular brand on the Costa del Sol, but authorities alleged that the business was merely a cover for the gang’s money laundering operations. It has folded since his arrest.
The US authorities have also linked Morrissey to the Kinahan Organised Crime Group (KOCG), accusing him of facilitating international drug shipments from South America.
The proposed clinic is located just a few kilometres from the couple’s home outside La Cala de Mijas, and they are eager to get the project off the ground in the coming months. However, he hasn’t been cleared by the authorities and he still has to check in with local police twice a week.
“They plan to stay in Marbella because that is where their life is and their friends are,” a source close to the couple said this week.
Images: Guardia Civil
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