A man named by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as a trusted member of the Kinahan organised crime gang has been arrested in Spain on firearms offences.
Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members.
His brother David was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in Dublin seven years ago.
Liam Byrne had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai on May 26.
The NCA also said another suspected member of the Kinahan crime group was arrested by officers from the Spanish National Police last Tuesday at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey.
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.#ProudToProtect
— National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) June 5, 2023
The arrests follow an NCA intelligence-led investigation, supported by the Spanish National Police and Garda officers 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.
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The two men are currently in custody while extradition proceedings continue.
Kay Mellor, regional head of investigations at the National Crime Agency, said: “This investigation is part of the NCA’s ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group.
“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.”
Daniel Kinahan has previously been named in the Irish courts as the head of one of Europe’s most prominent drug gangs.
Liam Byrne’s brother David died after being shot six times at a crowded boxing weigh-in event at Dublin’s Regency Hotel on February 5 2016 in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud.
