One of Ireland's biggest drug trafficking gangs targeted in global operation

Europol said 'a major action' had been taken against an encrypted communication platform used for criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, homicides and money laundering

Over 20 encrypted phones, some €350,000 in cash and 100kg of cocaine have been taken from one of Ireland’s biggest drug trafficking gangs as part of an international operation.

The arrest of a senior logistics operator working for the gang, known as ‘The Family’, has effectively dismantled a key “supply line”, security sources said.

The Garda operation started on Monday night and into Tuesday and focused on west and southwest Dublin and Wexford.

The gang, led by two brothers based in the Ballyfermot and Clondalkin areas of west Dublin, is one of the longest-running drug gangs in the country.

It is understood that previously unknown criminal players have also been identified in the operation.

The Garda searches were part of an international initiative to take down an encrypted phone network. It was coordinated by Europol, the EU police agency, and North American agencies.

The Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service worked with these agencies in pooling intelligence and analysis.

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) conducted the search operation, assisted by local gardaí.

Five arrests were made during the searches in Wexford and Dublin.

The phones will be forensically examined by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which took part in the searches.

In a statement, Europol said “a major action” had been taken against an encrypted communication platform used for criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, homicides and money laundering.

It said the action disrupted the activities of "high-risk criminal organisations operating from all four corners of the world".

Countries that took part are Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States.

Encrypted communication system

In 2020, French and Dutch police took down an encrypted communication system known as Encrochat. By June 2023, 6,500 suspected criminals had been arrested worldwide, including 200 “high-value targets” and the freezing of around €900m.

Gardaí searched farm buildings in Co Wexford on Monday night and found 100kgs of cocaine concealed in an articulated truck.

Four men were arrested at the scene and a fifth in Dublin. One of the men arrested is considered a key logistics operator for the gang and has a fleet of trucks.

In addition to being the country’s biggest heroin importer for 20 years or more, the gang has become, in recent years, major suppliers of other drugs, including cocaine and cannabis.

Although they previously had links with the Kinahan drug cartel, sources stress they have always operated independently.

This gang has contacts with global trafficking networks and has travelled to Mexico as part of an international coalition of gangs to meet notorious cartels such as the Sinaloa cartel.

Europol is holding a press conference today in the Hague, Netherlands, where representatives of participating agencies will speak, including Assistant Commissioner Organised and Serious Crime Justin Kelly.

In January 2022, DOCB seized €700,000 in cash, 16 “high value” watches and eight vehicles during a major search operation against The Family. In October 2020, DOCB found €4m in cash belonging to the gang in a ‘safe house’ in Kerry.

Between 2017 and 2019 the Criminal Assets Bureau hit garages linked to the gang seven times.