'Trusted' Kinahan crime group member Liam Byrne arrested in Spain
Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, described by the NCA as a trusted member of the Kinahan organised crime gang, after he was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca, Spain, while eating in a restaurant with family members. Picture: NCA/PA Wire
Liam Byrne, a key member of the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang, has been arrested in Mallorca, Spain.
Spanish police say they held him after discovering he was on the island with an international arrest warrant after he spent time hiding out in Dubai.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed on Monday that Mr Byrne was one of two suspected members of the Kinahan clan arrested in Spain. They said the arrests follow an "intelligence-led investigation" that was supported by gardaí.
Spanish police did not name him in a statement but described him as someone who led a criminal organisation specialising in arms trafficking.
Crumlin man Liam Byrne, whose brother David was shot dead in the Regency Hotel attack, forged a close partnership and became a trusted arm of the Kinahan cartel which became a global player in organised crime over the past two decades.
The NCA said: “Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, who is thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members.
“He had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai, UAE, on the 26 May."
A spokesman for Spain’s National Police in Mallorca said "the fugitive" had recently travelled to Mallorca "to meet up secretly with his family".
They said officers arrested "a dangerous Irish fugitive who is a member of the Kinahan clan". They said the arrest "was a priority of the UK’s National Crime Agency, for leading a criminal organisation involved in weapons trafficking in the UK".
“The fugitive led the weapons trafficking organisation which bought pistols and submachine guns to then sell to other organisations.
“Many of the weapons were bought with systems that didn’t leave fingerprints to be able to commit crimes and complicate police work.
“Such was the size of the organisation that it received an order from another organisation for 14 firearms in a single go."
The police spokesman said that during the NCA’s investigation "several members of the organisation this man belongs to were arrested for these crimes and for drugs trafficking, and a hideout with several handguns, submachine guns and a large amount of ammunition was discovered".
“The fugitive fled to Dubai after the NCA investigation finished and enough evidence was accumulated against him, and there he continued enjoying a luxury lifestyle and leading the organisation from a distance.
“After a lengthy investigation the NCA discovered the fugitive had recently travelled to Mallorca to meet up secretly with his family, and British police contacted the Spanish National Police’s specialist fugitive unit to make inquiries on his whereabouts.
“Officers were able through inquiries to locate a vehicle he could be using.
“After focusing the search on that area, the fugitive was located and arrested.”
The NCA also confirmed that Jack Kavanagh, "another suspected member of the crime group", from Tamworth, Staffordshire, England, was also arrested last week.
He was arrested by officers from the Spanish National Police on 30 May at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey.
“The arrests follow an NCA intelligence-led investigation, supported by the Spanish National Police and officers from An Garda Síochána in Ireland.
“The NCA obtained Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TACA) warrants after EncroChat messages showed they were believed to be involved in the supply and acquisition of firearms.
“They are currently in custody while extradition proceedings continue.”
NCA Regional Head of Investigations Kay Mellor said:
“We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.”
Garda assistant commissioner Justin Kelly said: “The arrest of Liam Byrne is a particularly significant development in the efforts of international law enforcement to dismantle the operations of the Kinahan organised crime group.
“These arrests are a demonstration of An Garda Síochána’s continued co-operation with our colleagues in the National Crime Agency.”
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