LAST UPDATE | 24 Oct

POLICE IN SPAIN have arrested Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch, following searches at ten locations targeting assets suspected to be owned by members of the Hutch gang.

Authorities from the Guardia Civil carried out searches yesterday with assistance from members of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

A statement from gardaí yesterday said the operation was targeting transnational organised crime group suspected to be involved in money laundering across a number of jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, one search took place at a house in Dublin, after Gardaí received an International Letter of Request/ Mutual Legal Assistance (ILOR) from Spanish police.

An officer from the Guardia Civil was in attendance at the search in Dublin, along with personnel from the Criminal Assets Bureau and Emergency Response Unit.

The North Dublin property is understood to be a property linked to Gerry Hutch.

The operation is part of a larger investigation by Spanish police focused on the laundering of money by Irish gangs operating in Spain but particularly the Hutch group.

It is understood that gardaí have fed intelligence and some evidence into that probe. Sources have said the raids in Spain and here in Ireland were focused on obtaining documents and other evidence.

It’s part of ongoing liaison between the GNBCI and Guardia Civil.

Speaking to reporters this morning, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she would not comment on the case.

She said gardaí “are working very closely with our European and our international counterparts to bring those who are involved in organised crime to justice”.

“We know that crime knows no boundaries. We know that people trying 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,” she said.

She said it is important that those responsible for “inflicting nothing but misery in our communities the length and breadth of this country” and the “people at the very top are held accountable”. 

She said the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and his team have done a huge amount of work in “working closely with colleagues, not just in Spain, but right across the world, working with colleagues in the US, in Europol and Interpol, in sharing information”. 

- Reporting from Niall O’Connor, Muiris O’Cearbhaill and Jane Moore