A man who gardaí say is the leader of the organised crime group known as 'The Family' is due in court after being arrested at Dublin Airport last night.
The man, aged in his 40s, has been charged with directing the activities of a criminal gang and will appear in court this morning.
Head of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland described 'The Family' as "the primary organised crime gang that's impacting in this jurisdiction in relation to cocaine and heroin trafficking".
The gang was targeted as part of an international investigation into the encrypted communications system known as 'Ghost'.
The subscription network was used by criminals worldwide for large-scale drugs trafficking, money laundering, extreme violence - including homicides - and other forms of serious and organised crime.
Set up in 2015 in Australia, Ireland had the second highest number of users.
Two years ago, gardaí carried out a series of arrests and searches and seized 42 encrypted Ghost phones, which have been forensically examined.
As part of that international investigation, the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau targeted the main criminal networks in Ireland, including 'The Family' which the head of the bureau said was the principal supplier of cocaine and heroin in Ireland.
The man who was arrested at Dublin Airport was taken to a garda station in Dublin where he has been charged with an offence under Section 71A of the Criminal Justice Act, directing the activities of a criminal organisation.
Directing also relates to controlling and supervising the organised crime group.
The man is being detained pending his appearance before the Dublin District Court.
As a result of the infiltration of the encrypted network 'Ghost', the gardaí have seized over €15,500,000 worth of cocaine, cannabis and heroin, as well as €350,000 and crypto currency.
They recovered two crypto currency keys, 27 laptops, 126 mobile devices, 200 sim cards, six Rolex watches and a 2021 Range Rover jeep.
Gardaí also seized 153 other mobile phones along with the 42 'Ghost' devices.
Over 50 people were arrested worldwide, 38 in Australia, 12 in Ireland and one each in Italy and Canada.
A drug laboratory was dismantled in Australia.
Weapons and huge quantities of drugs as well as over €1 million in cash has been seized globally.
In a statement, Garda Headquarters said: "Investigating gardaí attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) targeting activities of an Organised Crime Group in west Dublin arrested a male in his 40s.
"Following the arrest the male has been charged with offences in relation to organised crime activities.
"The male will appear before District Court 2, the Criminal Courts of Justice tomorrow, Monday 26th January 2026, at 10:30am."
Read more: How gardaí are targeting feared Dublin drug gang 'The Family'
