Five suspects arrested over kidnapping in Marbella linked to Kinahan cartel
Five people were arrested on the Costa del Sol in connection with a kidnapping allegedly committed by members of the Kinahan cartel, according to The Olive Press.
Operation against Kinahan cartel in Marbella
The National Police have arrested five people on the Costa del Sol as part of an operation targeting suspected members of the Kinahan cartel. According to The Olive Press, one of the detainees is an alleged Dublin hitman linked to the Irish criminal organisation, captured on 27 October alongside an associate ten years his junior.
The older man, originally from north Dublin, was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a criminal organisation. His companion was arrested on charges of possession of weapons and explosives, as well as vehicle theft. Both remain in custody following appearances before a judge in Marbella, according to the sources consulted.
Investigation into disappearance of Irish footballer
The arrests come five months after the disappearance of a relative of a professional Irish footballer in the Marbella area. According to the Irish Mirror, the two men are being investigated in connection with the disappearance, and his family fears he may have been murdered following a conflict with senior figures in the Kinahan organisation.
The older suspect has a two-decade history in organised crime in Dublin. He was brought into the organisation by Martin 'Marlo' Hyland, a drug trafficking chief murdered in Finglas in 2006. He subsequently served time for weapons offences before becoming embroiled in the bloody war between the Kinahan and Hutch cartels, during which he fled to the Costa del Sol.
Multiple investigations underway
Spanish authorities are also investigating the detainee in connection with the murder of Eddie Hutch, the older brother of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, who was shot at his Dublin home in February 2016. Additionally, he was arrested and released earlier this year on weapons threats charges. Irish police consider that his younger associate previously participated in Kinahan cartel operations in Dublin.
Spanish authorities are keeping the case under court secrecy, with details of the alleged kidnapping not yet revealed. A spokesperson for the National Police confirmed that a European arrest warrant was executed against one of the suspects following his capture. "The case is sealed, but the arrests relate to a criminal investigation in Spain, not investigations in Ireland or other places," a source told the Irish Sun.
Cooperation between authorities
An Garda Síochána (Irish Police) confirmed it is aware of the execution of a European arrest warrant issued by Irish courts against an Irish citizen in his thirties. "This is currently a matter for the Spanish authorities," said a spokesperson for the Irish police.
Source: The Olive Press