The convicted Irish criminal, Patrick 'Dutchy' Holland has been arrested and charged in England with abduction and firearms offences.
It is understood he was part of a group which had been under surveillance by the London Metropolitan Police.
Holland, with an address at Rosse's Way in Lewisham in London, along with four others, including two Irishmen, was arrested on Tuesday and brought before Westminster Magistrates Court in London.
The 68-year-old was released from Portlaoise Prison just over a year ago after serving nine years of a 12-year sentence for drug dealing.
Holland was jailed in 1997 for his role in John Gilligan's drug dealing gang and moved to England after he was released from prison.
He was charged with conspiracy to kidnap and remanded in custody to appear again in court in July.
