Spanish police say they held him after discovering he was on the island with a global arrest warrant after he frolicked hiding out in Dubai.
Crumlin man Liam Byrne (42) is the brother of David Byrne who was shot lifeless within the Regency Resort. This killing sparked the lethal Hutch/Kinahan feud.
A spokesman for Spain’s Nationwide Police mentioned: “This fugitive was a precedence for the UK and somebody who belongs to the Kinahan gang.
“He led a legal organisation devoted to arms dealing within the UK and supplying weapons to different legal organisations.”
Senior Kinahan Lieutenant Liam Byrne arrested in Spain
Sources have named the arrested man as Liam Byrne, full title Liam Christopher Byrne.
He was arrested within the Alcudia space in a restaurant the place he was consuming with members of the family, and was being held yesterday in Majorca.
Video footage reveals Byrne taken into custody in handcuffs after leaving his hideaway in Dubai and jetting to Majorca to see relations.
Spanish police launched footage of the seize as they confirmed the arrest of a key Kinahan member needed by Britain.
They didn’t title him in an announcement however described him as somebody who led a legal organisation specialising in arms trafficking.
A spokesman for Spain’s Nationwide Police in Majorca mentioned: “Nationwide Law enforcement officials have arrested in Majorca a harmful Irish fugitive who’s a member of the Kinahan clan and was a precedence of the UK’s Nationwide Crime Company, for main a legal organisation concerned in weapons trafficking within the UK.
“The fugitive led the weapons trafficking organisation which purchased pistols and submachine weapons to then promote to different organisations.
“Lots of the weapons have been purchased with methods that didn’t depart fingerprints to have the ability to commit crimes and complicate police work.
“Such was the dimensions of the organisation that it obtained an order from one other organisation for 14 firearms in a single go.
“Throughout the NCA’s investigation in Nice Britain and Northern Eire a number of members of the organisation this man belongs to have been arrested for these crimes and for medication trafficking, and a hideout with a number of handguns, submachine weapons and a considerable amount of ammunition was found.
“The fugitive fled to Dubai after the NCA investigation completed and sufficient proof was accrued towards him, and there he continued having fun with a luxurious life-style and main the organisation from a distance.
“After a prolonged investigation the NCA found the fugitive had just lately travelled to Majorca to satisfy up secretly along with his household, and British police contacted the Spanish Nationwide Police’s specialist fugitive unit to make inquiries on his whereabouts.
“Officers have been ready by inquiries to find a automobile he could possibly be utilizing.
“After focusing the search on that space, the fugitive was situated and arrested.”
The Byrne Organised Crime Group grew to become a central a part of gangland crime on this nation, relying closely on household connections as they grew to become an integral a part of the Kinahan Cartel.
The group led by Liam Byrne solid an in depth partnership and have become a trusted arm of the Kinahan Cartel which has change into a worldwide participant in organised crime over the previous twenty years.
One other suspected member of the crime group, an Englishman, was arrested by officers from the Spanish Nationwide Police final Tuesday at Malaga Airport whereas transiting from Dubai to Turkey.
The arrests comply with an intelligence-led investigation, involving the UK’s Nationwide Crime Company supported by the Spanish Nationwide Police and officers from An Garda Siochana.
Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations on the Nationwide Crime Company mentioned: “This investigation is a part of the NCA’s ongoing work focusing on the Kinahan crime group.
“We’ve got a wonderful relationship with the Spanish Nationwide Police and can proceed to work intently with our worldwide companions to make sure those that suppose they’ll keep below the radar haven’t any place to cover.”
