Gardaí investigate foreign gangs over kidnap rackets

GARDAÍ are investigating a number of Russian and Lithuanian gangs believed to be conducting extortion and kidnapping rackets in the greater Dublin area.

The gangs are well armed and are often involved in a range of organised criminal activities, including blackmail, intimidation, drug dealing, counterfeiting, smuggling and car theft.

The gangs operate within their own ethnic community and do not cross the line into the local population, for fear of coming to the attention of gardaí and local criminals.

Four Russians were arrested in north Dublin at the weekend following a garda probe into a suspected arms-dealing operation.

The four ethnic Russians, from Lithuania, were linked to the sale of weapons. Gardaí uncovered five pistols and ammunition in two raids in the Swords area.

Senior officers are increasingly concerned at the spread of firearms within foreign gangs.

Gardaí have noted a rise in crime involving nationals from Eastern Europe.

Detectives believe organised gangs have travelled from their home countries and have brought with them the criminal activities they engaged in at home.

Detectives in north Dublin have gathered intelligence on serious criminals from Russia and Lithuania.

“We’ve certainly noticed the emergence of Lithuanian gangs,” said a detective based in north Dublin. “There’s a large Lithuanian population here, in Swords and elsewhere. Many are ethnic Russian and there’s an element within them that are serious criminals.

“They are involved in extortion and intimidation. They hold someone ransom and demand money for their safe release. The gardaí aren’t notified as they have instilled fear into the population.

“They stay within their own nationals — they have no dealing with the Irish population or criminals.

“With the enlargement of the EU, the population is very mobile. They have their own transport, so it’s easy enough for them to bring in firearms.”

He said many had military training from service in the Russian or Lithuanian armies and had “no compunction” about using firearms against the gardaí.

Gardaí suspect that some of the gangs may be controlled from their home countries.

In its 2005 organised crime report, the European police body, Europol, said Ireland was one of two countries which said the enlargement of the EU “favoured the organised smuggling of firearms” into the country.