Gerard Hutch, the man known as ‘The Monk’, and a number of his relatives have been arrested in Spain as part of an investigation into money laundering activities.
Hutch was arrested in Lanzarote and is being questioned in connection with the investigation by the Guardia Civil.
He was described by the Special Criminal Court as the head of the Hutch family.
Gardaí searched his house in Clontarf in Dublin yesterday, while the Guardia Civil carried out ten searches in Spain.
Several others, including Hutch family members, are also in custody in Spain.
The investigation into money laundering across several countries by the Hutch organised crime group has been ongoing for more than two years.
An officer from the Guardia Civil was present at the search in Dublin, while officers from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) accompanied Spanish police on searches in Spain.
The search in Dublin took place on foot of an international letter of request and mutual assistance from the Spanish authorities.
Gardaí say the operation is part of ongoing liaison between the GNBCI and Guardia Civil, targeting a Transnational Organised Crime Group located both in Ireland and Spain.
A previous search targeting the group was conducted in Lanzarote in June 2022 by Guardia Civil on behalf of the GNBCI.
The Guardia Civil said in a statement that the investigation is ongoing and they are unable to give further information at this time because of a “secrecy order” in Spain.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said recent “actions” show the importance of relationships between the gardaí and police in other countries.
They also show that organised crime knows no boundaries, she added.
“It’s very clear by a number of actions recently that An Garda Síochána are working very closely with our European and our international counterparts to bring those who are involved in organised crime to justice,” she said.
“We know that crime knows no boundaries. We know that people to evade the law will often leave the country and cross into other jurisdictions, and that’s why it’s really important that gardaí have, over the years, built up really strong relationships with other police in other countries.”
Minister McEntee also highlighted the importance of the recent extradition treaty signed by Ireland and the UAE.
“They make sure that that cooperation can be strengthened, that we have the frameworks in place, and above all, that those who are responsible for inflicting nothing but misery in our communities the length and breadth of this country, that the people at the very top are held accountable,” she said.
