A man named as a senior member of an Irish crime organisation has been arrested in Spain on suspicion of money laundering.
Johnny Morrisey was arrested in the Costa Del Sol on Monday. The 62-year-old appeared before the courts in Spain yesterday ( Wednesday) and was remanded in custody, along with another man.
Detectives from six different police forces, including the Spanish Civil Guard, An Garda Síochána and the US Drug Enforcement Agency, took part in the operation which resulted in the arrest of Morrissey.
READ MORE: Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mum vows to 'never say goodbye' to daughter in eulogy
Spanish police said the operation targeted a major money laundering operation. Morrisey, an Irish passport holder, is the first member of the so called Kinahan cartel’s leadership to be arrested since the measures were announced by the US authorities in April.
In April the US Department of the Treasury named Christy snr, Daniel and Christopher jnr Kinahan as members of an international crime organisation. The US authorities also announced a raft of financial sanctions against the Kinahans, who were based in Dubai.
The US Treasury department said Morrissey has “worked for the [cartel] for several years, including as an enforcer”. It said he “facilitates international drug shipments for the organisation from South America” and was also “involved in money laundering”.
It is further stated that he was the owner or controller, either directly or indirectly, of the Scottish-based Nero Drinks Company Ltd, which sells luxury alcoholic drinks and is one of the three companies now on the US sanctions list.
Today (Thursday) the National Crime Agency told the Manchester Evening News that officers have searched addresses in Greater Manchester and Glasgow 'in support of an international investigation into drug smuggling and money laundering linked to alleged members of the Kinahan organised crime group'.
Their statement added: "The searches follow three arrests made by the Spanish Guardia Civil in the Costa del Sol, Spain, on Monday 12 September. Among those detained were a male Irish national and his British wife.
The Guardia Civil said: “The main target in Spain devoted himself to collecting large amounts of money in cash from criminal organisations operating in our country and handing it through the Hawala system to organised criminal groups in other countries and vice-versa.
“Investigators were able to corroborate that during the time the investigation lasted, he allegedly managed to transfer more than EUROS two hundred million,”
They continued: “The principal members of the organisation in Spain allegedly created a luxury vodka brand promoted at shows, parties and events at nightclubs and restaurants in luxury Costa del Sol environments, presenting it as a successful drinks brand.
“This couldn’t be further from reality because according to information from tax authorities, it couldn’t be funding the lifestyle of the people arrested.
“Similarly they allegedly created another firm in the UK which was dependent on another company created in Gibraltar, with the aim of hiding the true identity of the directors of the firms that were used to launder the money coming from Hawala.”
READ NEXT:
Touching reason pupils will paint their nails pink during Olivia Pratt-Korbel's funeral
Olivia Pratt-Korbel's funeral service as murdered nine-year-old laid to rest
Liverpool ECHO to turn social media logos pink for Olivia Pratt-Korbel
