A suspected senior member of the notorious Kinahan cartel, Liam Byrne, has been arrested while enjoying a meal at a restaurant in Spain. Byrne, hailing from Dublin, is believed to be one of the most trusted individuals within the Irish organized crime group. He was apprehended on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca, where he was dining with family members.
The 42-year-old had recently arrived in Palma Airport from Dubai on May 26 and was taken into custody based on a UK extradition warrant. Byrne’s brother, David, was tragically shot dead at the Regency Hotel in Dublin seven years ago. This recent arrest marks the second detention of a suspected Kinahan cartel member in the past few days.
Just a few days prior, 22-year-old Jack Kavanagh from Staffordshire was held by Spanish National Police at Malaga Airport while in transit from Dubai to Turkey. Both Byrne and Kavanagh were wanted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on suspicion of firearms offenses. The arrests were a result of an NCA-led investigation, with support from the Spanish National Police and Irish authorities.
The NCA obtained Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TACA) warrants after intercepting EncroChat messages that implicated the suspects in the supply and acquisition of firearms. Currently, both Byrne and Kavanagh remain in custody as extradition proceedings are underway.
Kay Mellor from the National Crime Agency emphasized that this operation is part of their ongoing efforts to target the Kinahan crime group. She stated that Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh had evaded justice for several years but have now been apprehended in relation to serious firearms offenses. The NCA, along with international partners, including the Spanish National Police, will continue to work diligently to ensure that individuals who believe they can evade law enforcement have no place to hide.
In a significant development, the US government announced a reward of $5 million (£3.8 million) in April 2022 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the leaders of the Kinahan cartel. This move dealt a severe blow to the criminal organization, whose involvement in drug and firearms trafficking extends beyond the streets of Dublin to various countries worldwide. The international operation against the Kinahan cartel remains ongoing, with law enforcement agencies determined to dismantle their criminal activities.
