A man named by the US Department of the Treasury as a key member of the Kinahan crime cartel has appeared in court in Spain in relation to money laundering.
Detectives from six different police forces, including An Garda Síochána, the Spanish Guardia Civil, and US DEA law enforcement agency, took part in the operation to arrest Johnny Morrissey in Costa del Sol.
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He appeared in court yesterday along with two others after spending two nights in police custody.
Gardaí say the international investigation into the Kinahan organised crime group is "live and ongoing".
Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary, who is in charge of serious and organised crime, has welcomed the developments in Spain.
He described it as "significant" and the latest in a move to dismantle organised crime groups all over the world.
Gardaí have been working with the Spanish authorities, as well as the UK's National Crime Agency, the Dutch Police and Europol under 'Operation Whitehall' targeting Mr Morrissey.
Europol today described him as one of Europe’s biggest money launderers.
The 62-year-old has also been sanctioned by US authorities, along with Daniel Kinahan, Christy Kinahan Snr and Christopher Kinahan Jnr.
Spain's Guardia Civil say that using the Hawala underground banking network, Mr Morrissey, along with others, laundered €200 million in less than a year-and-a-half - some €350,000 a day.
He was arrested, charged and remanded in custody in Malaga.
A woman arrested with him was released on bail.
An Garda Síochána had personnel on the ground in Spain during the searches there.
Spanish police raided the luxury Costa Del Sol villa of Mr Morrissey, who US authorities say has worked for the criminal gang for several years, including as an enforcer, as well as money laundering and facilitating international drug shipments from South America.
Artwork, computers, passports, identity documents, watches and cash were seized.
Mr Morrissey sat in his kitchen during the search.
Luxury cars were also searched as police discovered secret compartments, which they say the Kinahan gang used to smuggle cash and drugs collected from criminal organisations in one country and delivered to criminal gangs in other countries
Cash was transferred using the Hawala underground banking system, an informal Arabic method of transferring money without actually physically moving any cash.
Gardaí say the harm caused to society by international drug traffickers is evident in Ireland every day and 18 people have been shot dead as part of the ongoing Hutch/Kinahan gang feud.
Mr Morrissey is the first of the seven leaders of the Kinahan organised crime group named and sanctioned by the US authorities to be arrested and charged.
Gardaí say further arrests and charges are expected as the leaders are being pursued by law enforcement agencies in the US, UK, Europe and the Middle East.
US authorities said of Mr Morrissey: "John Morrissey has worked for the Kinahan organised crime group for several years, including as an enforcer, and facilitates international drug shipments for the organisation from South America. John Morrissey is also involved in money laundering."
He was included on the list alongside the likes of Daniel Kinahan, described in the same statement as "playing an integral part in organising the supply of drugs in Ireland", and his father Christopher Kinahan.
The other people named as part of a $5 million appeal for information were Christopher Kinahan Jnr, Daniel Kinahan's "advisor and closest confidant" Sean McGovern and Ian Dixon, who was arrested over the 2015 Costa del Sol murder of Gary Hutch but never charged.
Spanish police and counterparts from other law enforcement agencies around Europe are believed to have searched several properties with a court warrant, including Mr Morrissey’s house near Marbella, and business addresses as part of the operation which resulted in his arrest.
It was led by the Civil Guard Unit’s elite Central Operative Unit, responsible for the investigation and prosecution of the most serious forms of crime and organised crime.
Rapid response Civil Guard units USECIC and GAR, whose officers are trained to deal with everything from nuclear threats to terrorist incidents, also lent their support.
Mr Morrissey "and his associates were in charge of collecting large amounts of cash from criminal organisations, which they would then 'deliver' to other criminal organisations in other countries," said Europol.
Using the so-called hawala underground banking system, which works on the base of face-to-face transactions, "it is believed that the suspects have laundered over €200 million using this method," Europol added.
Mr Morrissey "is one of our high-value targets", Europol spokeswoman Claire Georges said, adding that the arrest follows as "complex investigation".
Additional reporting: AFP
