Dublin gang suspected in illegal car export ring

GARDAÍ are investigating whether the notorious Westies criminal gang was involved in an international multi-million euro illegal car export ring smashed by officers on Monday.

Detectives suspect experienced thieves in the Westies - headed by two crime bosses allegedly abducted in Spain earlier this month - may have supplied the luxury vehicles to a Middle Eastern gang.

Officers estimate the international gang made between €3 million and €6 million from the trade within the last six to eight months.

Four men - three Lebanese and one Syrian - were questioned yesterday after they were arrested at a warehouse outside Kilcullen, County Kildare, on Monday.

One of them is suspected of being the ring-leader behind the operation, which mainly stripped down stolen cars into their parts for transport and sale in the Middle East.

The Criminal Assets Bureau and the Revenue Commissioners are to be called in to trace the bank accounts and assets connected to the export company set up to transport the parts. The Westies gang, based in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, has been highly involved in the theft of luxury cars. While other gangs are also involved in car thefts, gardaí suspect the Westies could be the thieves which supplied cars to the Middle Eastern gang.

“It’s too early to say for sure, but we will be investigating if there is a link,” said a garda source.

It is thought the thieves were paid between €2,000 and €10,000 for each car stolen. Around 100 high-powered vehicles have been stolen from the west Dublin area in the last eight months.

Detective Inspector Brian Sherry of Blanchardstown Station yesterday said the operation appeared to be well organised and operating for some time, at least six to eight months.

In a joint operation with the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation Stolen Car Squad, gardaí in the west Dublin division raided a warehouse just off the N9 in the Ballymount area of Kildare at around lunchtime on Monday.

Detectives arrested four men at the scene and seized a 40ft container, holding a number of cars, which had not yet been dismantled. Gardaí estimate two or three containers were shipped out each month.

Officers also seized mechanical equipment and tools used to dismantle cars, as well as documents, including shipping records.

The four men - ranging in age from 20 to 36 - were detained under the Offences Against the State Act, allowing a possible detention period of two days. Gardaí said they were searching for firearms.

Gardaí suspect the leader of the gang used a company he had previously set up for legitimate trade to ship the containers.