- Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has been arrested in Spain
- He was arrested as part of an international money laundering investigation.
- The Monk has been a pillar of the Irish underworld for decades
Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has been arrested by Spanish police as part of an international money laundering investigation.
Hutch, 61, was arrested along with other family members in Spain and is being questioned by authorities.
It comes a day after a series of searches were carried out in the Republic of Ireland and Spain as part of an investigation into transnational organized crime.
Irish police said a criminal gang is suspected of being involved in money laundering in several jurisdictions.
Ten searches were carried out in Spain on Wednesday morning, while guards from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) are in Spain supporting the Civil Guard.
A Civil Guard agent attended the search of a residential property in Dublin on Wednesday, at the request of the Spanish authorities.
Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has been arrested by the Spanish police as part of an international investigation into money laundering (File image)
He was detained along with other family members in Spain and is being interrogated by the authorities (File image)
Irish Police Chief Drew Harris said the searches and arrests follow the exchange of information and evidence between Irish and Spanish police.
Speaking at garda (Irish police) headquarters in Dublin, Harris said: “There is an ongoing legal process with the Spanish authorities, so I cannot comment on the details of yesterday’s operations and what will unfold in the future. coming days.”
‘But I can say that we have been working closely with the Civil Guard for several years, more than two years, in terms of sharing information and then sharing evidence.
‘We will see today and in the coming days what the immediate results of that investigation are.
‘It’s another organized crime group. They are very well known, so there is an element of notoriety regarding them.
‘But beyond that, there is the extent of the criminality they are involved in.
“We have been involved in a long-term, very thorough and focused investigation regarding that organized crime group, and that has meant that we have worked with our international partners to try to put an end to the criminality that the organized group in general groups criminals involved.
File photo dated 25/3/2006 of Gerry Hutch pictured in the rear view mirror of his limousine
Gerry Hutch wears a costume as he leaves after attending the funeral of his brother Eddie Hutch, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Dublin, Ireland, on February 19, 2016.
‘It is important in terms of our cooperation with the Spanish authorities in this case and with Europol. “As the next few days unfold, we will see some of the results.”
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “I am not going to comment on any case, but what I will say is that it is very clear from a number of recent actions that An Garda Siochana is working very closely with our European authorities and their international counterparts, to bring those involved in organized crime to justice.
“We know that crime knows no borders, we know that people, to evade the law, often leave the country and cross into other jurisdictions and that’s why it’s really important that Gardai have built really strong relationships with other police in other countries.
“I traveled to the United Arab Emirates this week to sign a series of treaties to ensure that corporations, and especially those responsible for inflicting nothing but misery on our communities, across this country, can be strengthened. that people in the highest positions are held accountable.