Detention will disrupt flow of drugs into State, gardaí believe - The Irish Times - Mon, May 31, 2010: "Kinahan has been based on the Costa del Sol since late 2001, when he was released from a prison term in Ireland for handling stolen travellers’ cheques. He immediately established contacts with major international drug cartels in Spain, sourcing vast quantities of mostly cocaine and cannabis from them.
The drugs were then shipped to Ireland hidden in trucks, owned by “front” food export companies controlled by Kinahan, that travelled from the continent to Ireland and the UK by car ferry. The drugs were then sold on to local gangs.
The operation came crashing down last Tuesday when 700 police officers in Ireland, Spain and the UK arrested 32 suspects during co-ordinated raids. Property, valued at at least €650 million, has now been identified in Brazil, Spain, the UK, Dubai, South Africa, Belgium, Ireland and the UK.
The properties in Brazil include six significant leisure complexes valued at €500 million.
Some 60 properties linked to the Kinahan gang have already been frozen in Spain. Gardaí believe Kinahan controlled a network of 30 front companies through which he transported and distributed drugs across Ireland and the UK and then laundered the proceeds by buying property."
Ring of armed officers surrounds Spanish court for gang hearings - The Irish Times - Sat, May 29, 2010
Ring of armed officers surrounds Spanish court for gang hearings - The Irish Times - Sat, May 29, 2010: "Heavily armed officers imposed a ring of security around the building in Estepona as judge Maria Carmen Gutierrez Henares questioned some of the 22 suspects arrested in the police raids.
It was not made known last night when exactly Kinahan himself would be questioned by the judge in the proceedings which could go on over the weekend.
A statement released yesterday morning by Andalusia’s higher court of justice said: “The court of the first instance and instruction number 3 in Estepona took statements on Thursday from eight people in relation to the operation against the Irish mafia.
“Six of them were released on bail with the obligation to appear on the first and 15th day of each month.
“They are being formally investigated for money-laundering, drug trafficking and falsifying documents, along with other alleged offences.”
A lawyer acting for one suspect said: “The suspects were brought to court three by three because there are only two cells in the building, one holding two people and the other holding one.
“The judge takes statements from them individually.”"
It was not made known last night when exactly Kinahan himself would be questioned by the judge in the proceedings which could go on over the weekend.
A statement released yesterday morning by Andalusia’s higher court of justice said: “The court of the first instance and instruction number 3 in Estepona took statements on Thursday from eight people in relation to the operation against the Irish mafia.
“Six of them were released on bail with the obligation to appear on the first and 15th day of each month.
“They are being formally investigated for money-laundering, drug trafficking and falsifying documents, along with other alleged offences.”
A lawyer acting for one suspect said: “The suspects were brought to court three by three because there are only two cells in the building, one holding two people and the other holding one.
“The judge takes statements from them individually.”"
Documents regarding the disappearance of missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick have been seized.
Documents regarding the disappearance of missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick have been seized.
The one-million euro home of Spanish lawyer Juan de la Fuente in Benalmadena was burgled as thieves made off with vital paperwork and cash.
Bizarrely, the crooks however left behind some 30,000 euros in valuables, including expensive paintings and a plasma-screen television.
Recently, Amy’s mum Audrey and stepdad Dave Mahon had handed over a number
of files related to the hunt for the Irish youth.
La Fuente, 32, explained that the burglars broke in via a garden gate.
“It makes no sense that they took documents which financially are worthless, and left behind all my expensive valuables like TVs, computers and music equipment.”
“The stolen documents included confidential police reports about Amy’s disappearance,” he said.
“It makes no sense that they took documents which financially are worthless, and left behind all my expensive valuables like TVs, computers and music equipment.”
And Mahon added: “We had handed over a number of important documents following our trip to Ireland.
“They were stolen, as well as some civil guard documents relating to the case.
“What is strange is that they left behind some very expensive valuables and a wallet which was left open on the side.”
In 2008, Mahon and Fitzpatrick’s home in Riviera del Sol was also broken into, with thieves making off with a laptop and Amy’s old mobile phone.
Irish mafia on the Costa del Sol linked to 20 murders across Europe. Surinenglish.com
Irish mafia on the Costa del Sol linked to 20 murders across Europe. Surinenglish.com: "arrest of 31 members of an Irish mafia organisation, 17 of whom were detained in Estepona, Marbella, Fuengirola and Mijas. In total, searches were carried out in 122 houses, lawyers' offices and other private establishments. 500 police officers participated in the raid that was carried out simultaneously in Spain, Ireland and the United Kingdom, coordinated by Europol.
This group, whose connections extend to at least 20 countries worldwide, is considered one of the largest criminal organisations on an international scale, although predominantly in the British Isles. According to Europol, the group is suspected of being involved in more than 20 murders committed in various different countries. It was the investigation of one of these murders that gave birth to 'Operation Shovel', as the raid has been named. In February 2008 Paddy Doyle, a 28-year-old Irish citizen, who was known to the police for his involvement in organised crime, died from numerous gunshot wounds in an ambush attack in a housing estate in Estepona.
The murder was immediately thought to be a revenge killing between gangs of drug dealers. The investigation led the police to certain members of this mafia group, and eventually linked them with several murders committed in Spain, more precisely on the Costa del Sol, as well as Holland and Ireland, the Ministry of the Interior revealed yesterday."
Major operation against European network |Crime Scene Spain
Major operation against European network |Crime Scene Spain: "THIRTY-TWO people were arrested throughout Europe in a coordinated sting against a European drug and arms trafficking network operating in Malaga, London and Dublin.
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) informed that the ringleader is 53-year-old Cristopher Kinahan, was arrested on the Costa del Sol by National Police who also took in his two sons, several British and Irish citizens and four Spanish lawyers.
On the Costa del Sol, the operation was led by an Estepona court and 17 people were arrested in Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola and Mijas. More than 122 properties have been searched.
The investigation began in 2008. In February 2008, 28-year-old Irishman Paddy Doyle was shot down in Estepona. It was first thought that it was a settling of scores between rival gangs but the police investigation led to something much bigger.
The gang may also be involved in the deaths of 39-year-old Peter M, who was shot in Nueva Andalucia in August 2008, and Richard K., aged 30, shot in Benalmadena in February 2009. The same year, the charred body of a missing Irish citizen was found in a pipe in La Cala de Mijas."
Low-profile kingpin amassed €100m fortune - The Irish Times - Wed, May 26, 2010
Low-profile kingpin amassed €100m fortune - The Irish Times - Wed, May 26, 2010: "MAN at the centre of the Irish-led international drug trafficking and money-laundering network targeted yesterday has drug and money laundering convictions in Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Christy Kinahan (53), has had Irish addresses at York Street and St Teresa’s Gardens in Dublin’s inner city, as well as at Cabra, Phibsboro and Fairview, all on the north side of the city. He is not a household name, but is well known in media and policing circles and has been regarded for some time as perhaps the biggest wholesaler of illicit drugs for Irish crime gangs.
He has amassed a personal fortune of well over €100 million in the last decade through drug-dealing and investing and laundering the proceeds of his crimes.
Regarded as one of the cleverest Irish criminals involved in the international drugs trade, he speaks several foreign languages, including Dutch and Spanish. During a prison term in the 1990s he studied for a degree course in French and refused temporary release so he could complete it.
In March 1987 he was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to possessing heroin valued at £117,000. He told the court he was a heroin addict and was trying to turn his life around by studying in prison. In March 1998 he was jailed for four years after he was found in possession of £16,000 in stolen travellers’ cheques.
Kinahan, a separated father of three, also has convictions for forgery and for possession of cannabis. He served at least one of his sentences in the State’s maximum security prison in Portlaoise. He was released from his last prison sentence in 2001 and is believed to have left for Spain within months"
Christy Kinahan (53), has had Irish addresses at York Street and St Teresa’s Gardens in Dublin’s inner city, as well as at Cabra, Phibsboro and Fairview, all on the north side of the city. He is not a household name, but is well known in media and policing circles and has been regarded for some time as perhaps the biggest wholesaler of illicit drugs for Irish crime gangs.
He has amassed a personal fortune of well over €100 million in the last decade through drug-dealing and investing and laundering the proceeds of his crimes.
Regarded as one of the cleverest Irish criminals involved in the international drugs trade, he speaks several foreign languages, including Dutch and Spanish. During a prison term in the 1990s he studied for a degree course in French and refused temporary release so he could complete it.
In March 1987 he was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to possessing heroin valued at £117,000. He told the court he was a heroin addict and was trying to turn his life around by studying in prison. In March 1998 he was jailed for four years after he was found in possession of £16,000 in stolen travellers’ cheques.
Kinahan, a separated father of three, also has convictions for forgery and for possession of cannabis. He served at least one of his sentences in the State’s maximum security prison in Portlaoise. He was released from his last prison sentence in 2001 and is believed to have left for Spain within months"
Several Spanish lawyers were arrested on suspicion of their part in the money-laundering side of the gang's business.
Kinahan is thought to have been behind a bet-to-lose horse-racing scam in the UK in 2004, in which top jockey Kieren Fallon and others were eventually acquitted when an Old Bailey trial collapsed.
His sons Christy Junior and Daniel were also arrested in an operation involving armed police.
The crime gang is suspected of major drug trafficking into the UK and the rest of Europe, gun supply to inner city gangs in Britain and several underworld murders.
The network is also accused of offering rival villains a money-laundering service to disguise their crime profits, much of it ploughed into building projects.
Several Spanish lawyers were arrested on suspicion of their part in the money-laundering side of the gang's business.
Another man arrested was Irishman John Cunningham, considered to be Kinahan's right-hand man.
Cunningham has a previous conviction for the kidnap in 1986 of heiress Jennifer Guinness in Ireland.
The principals are thought to have been under surveillance for a year or more, during which time they were overheard talking in code.
They allegedly used "computers" for guns, "waiters" for weapons, "cars" for ecstasy and "leaves" for banknotes.
If charged they are expected to stand trial in Spain and those arrested in the UK and Ireland could be extradited here.
Soca's Trevor Pearce said: "The scale of this joint operation by law enforcement agencies from so many countries is an indication of how prolific we think this network was.
"Today's arrests will have dealt a major blow to an organised criminal business suspected of supplying drugs and guns to gangs in cities across the UK and Europe.
"It highlights Soca's role in co-ordinating complex investigations into organised crime, which always has an international dimension."
Ex-Mexican Mafia general tells how 2 snitches were killed
Ex-Mexican Mafia general tells how 2 snitches were killed: "Texas Mexican Mafia nearly obliterated the criminal organization's San Antonio leadership in 2004, it created a power vacuum that led to Joe “Pancho” Pena's ascendancy to “general.”
One of Pena's first acts as leader of local operations was to organize the slayings of two informants who had made the roundup of 28 mafia members possible, the leader-turned-witness told a federal jury Friday.
“Is there any way someone can be a member of the mafia and not be squeamish about killing?” U.S. Attorney Joey Contreras asked Pena.
“No,” he responded matter-of-factly, explaining the gang's constitution has only one resolution for those who betray the organization. “The green light: death.”
Pena is so far the highest-ranking former mafia member to testify in the racketeering trial of three men who have been described as the new leadership that emerged following the 2004 roundup."
One of Pena's first acts as leader of local operations was to organize the slayings of two informants who had made the roundup of 28 mafia members possible, the leader-turned-witness told a federal jury Friday.
“Is there any way someone can be a member of the mafia and not be squeamish about killing?” U.S. Attorney Joey Contreras asked Pena.
“No,” he responded matter-of-factly, explaining the gang's constitution has only one resolution for those who betray the organization. “The green light: death.”
Pena is so far the highest-ranking former mafia member to testify in the racketeering trial of three men who have been described as the new leadership that emerged following the 2004 roundup."
Hells Angel Proves There's Bike After Death
Hells Angel Proves There's Bike After Death: "Hells Angel who was shot dead in a gunfight has gone for one last ride on his beloved Honda - his destination beyond the grave.Friends helped Puerto Rican David Morales Colon, from San Juan, fulfil his last wish - to be buried with his bike - after the 22-year-old lost his life in a shootout last week.
Funeral directors embalmed the body, dressed him in jeans, shoes, a jacket and a hat and put sunglasses on him to cover his eyes.
They then used hidden supports to put the corpse on the bike for the wake - with his hand gunning the throttle and body crouched over the fuel tank, to mimic his stance when riding at speed.
Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album was played at the funeral."
Funeral directors embalmed the body, dressed him in jeans, shoes, a jacket and a hat and put sunglasses on him to cover his eyes.
They then used hidden supports to put the corpse on the bike for the wake - with his hand gunning the throttle and body crouched over the fuel tank, to mimic his stance when riding at speed.
Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album was played at the funeral."
Double shooting might be gang-related - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Double shooting might be gang-related - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "Adelaide police are investigating possible gang involvement in a double shooting in the inner northern suburbs.
Two men were shot in the back in the attack near a Blair Athol sports club.
Police are treating the shootings as attempted murder.
A man, 26, from Enfield man and a Modbury man, 20, were drinking and playing cards with friends when two armed men approached at about 8:30pm ACST.
There was an altercation and the men fired six shots"
Two men were shot in the back in the attack near a Blair Athol sports club.
Police are treating the shootings as attempted murder.
A man, 26, from Enfield man and a Modbury man, 20, were drinking and playing cards with friends when two armed men approached at about 8:30pm ACST.
There was an altercation and the men fired six shots"
Litter bug sees bank account embargoed
Litter bug sees bank account embargoed: "34 year old Murcia man, Daniel Hidalgo, has won a case against Murcia City Hall, after his bank account was embargoed when he dropped a tetra-brick chocolate drink on the ground.
Daniel told 20minutos.es that he does not remember whether he threw the container to the ground, or if it just fell from his hands, but as it happened he was stopped by two policemen who said ‘You are a swine’, and fined him 30 €.
This was back in 2002 and he said that he told the police that because he had been insulted by them he was not going to pay the fine. He thought that was the end of it, but six years later when he went to get some money from the bank, he discovered the City Hall had embargoed his account.
He then complained that six years on the fine would have expired in any case, and although the City Hall then agreed, they still removed 1,000 € from his account for making the challenge. He then took on a legal aid lawyer to get the money returned and warned others that it was a fraud. ‘Who is going to spend 1,000 € to get back 30’, he said, although the council paid him back 45 € - the original fine plus interest"
Daniel told 20minutos.es that he does not remember whether he threw the container to the ground, or if it just fell from his hands, but as it happened he was stopped by two policemen who said ‘You are a swine’, and fined him 30 €.
This was back in 2002 and he said that he told the police that because he had been insulted by them he was not going to pay the fine. He thought that was the end of it, but six years later when he went to get some money from the bank, he discovered the City Hall had embargoed his account.
He then complained that six years on the fine would have expired in any case, and although the City Hall then agreed, they still removed 1,000 € from his account for making the challenge. He then took on a legal aid lawyer to get the money returned and warned others that it was a fraud. ‘Who is going to spend 1,000 € to get back 30’, he said, although the council paid him back 45 € - the original fine plus interest"
Police crack down on foreigners' crime on the Costa del Sol
Police crack down on foreigners' crime on the Costa del Sol: "206 foreign criminals have been arrested over the past year in Málaga province. In total the UDYCO specialist crime unit made 407 arrests last year, 104 more than in 2008.It’s a 34% jump in the number of detentions and police say that is thanks to a new strategy which has seen a more selective control on international criminal networks that have looked to lie low on the Costa del Sol."
Sean Connery has been ordered to appear before a Spanish magistrate investigating alleged financial irregularities on the Costa del Sol.
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Sean Connery has been ordered to appear before a Spanish magistrate investigating alleged financial irregularities on the Costa del SolSean Connery has been ordered to appear before a Spanish magistrate investigating alleged financial irregularities on the Costa del Sol.
The James Bond star, 79, and his wife Micheline Roquebrune, are being investigated by a court in the millionaires' playground of Marbella.
Five lawyers have also been ordered to appear before the court after police raided their offices on Wednesday in an operation named Goldfinger.
Connery and his wife, Michelle, a French painter, lived in Marbella from the early 1970s to the late 1990s in a beachside mansion called Malibu.
They entertained stars including Richard Burton, Michael Caine, Omar Sharif and George best in the magnificent whitewashed villa.
Connery sold the property for a reported $9million in the late 90s, and 72 luxury flats were later built on the land.
A two-bedroom apartment there is now worth around £2million.
Magistrate Ricardo Puyol is reportedly investigating the sale of the house and allegations of tax evasion and money-laundering.
The actor and his wife are expected to appear before the magistrate at Marbella's Court of Instruction number 1 on May 27, 28 or 29.
They will be questioned in detail, behind closed doors, before the magistrate decides if any further action should be taken.
Neither Connery or his wife have been arrested or charged with any offence.
On Wednesday officers from the National Police accompanied by tax officials raided the officers of law firm Diaz-Bastien & Truan in Marbella and Madrid.
Operating on the orders of the magistrate, the officers reportedly seized 30,000 documents.
The magistrate has placed a secrecy order on the case which bans any officials from speaking about the investigation.
National newspaper El Mundo said the magistrate is investigating a number of property deals made during the tenure of controversial Marbella mayor Jesus Gil y Gil, the former owner of Atletico Madrid football club.
It said the magistrate was investigating possible tax evasion, embezzlement, perversion of justice and money-laundering.
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