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Date Published: 15/09/2022

ARCHIVED - Major blow to Irish Kinahan cartel as notorious crime boss arrested in Costa del Sol

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Johnny Morrissey, described as a “key” member of the criminal gang, has lived in Malaga for several years

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Major blow to Irish Kinahan cartel as notorious crime boss arrested in Costa del Sol

Manchester-raised expat Johnny Morrissey, one of seven “key members” of the notorious Kinahan cartel, was arrested in Spain on Monday September 13. The 62-year-old criminal, who holds an Irish passport, was picked up, along with his partner Nicole, at their lavish villa in Marbella and taken into police custody in handcuffs.

Speaking shortly after Morrissey’s arrest, a source close to the case said: “Although he’s the first we don’t expect him to be the last and are working on making sure others fall soon.”

Officers from six different police forces, including the Spanish Guardia Civil, the Irish An Garda Síochána and the US Drug Enforcement Agency took part in the bust, during which two other suspected gang members were also apprehended.

Back in April, the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on several alleged gang lords, including the cartel founder Christy Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr.

At the time, the US authorities said of Morrissey, who was invited to Daniel Kinahan’s wedding in Dubai in 2017: “John Morrissey has worked for the Kinahan Organised Crime Group (KOCG) 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.

The arrest of this violent criminal is a huge coup for international law enforcement and the first visible progress in bringing down the far-flung cartel. The Kinahan gang is notorious the world over, particularly for a long-standing and bloody feud with the rival Hutch cartel, which has resulted in at least 18 murders in Ireland and Spain.

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch was arrested at his Fuengirola bolthole in August 2021 and is awaiting trial for the 2016 murder of David Byrne in the Regency Hotel in Dublin.

According to police sources, Nicole was released from custody after being questioned by Spanish police but Morrissey and another suspect remain behind bars on Thursday September 15.

Image: Guardia Civil

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