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A man believed to be a high-ranking member of the Hutch organised crime group has been arrested in Lanzarote following a coordinated operation between Spanish and Irish police.

 

The arrest took place on Wednesday April 8 in the town of Tías, shortly after Irish authorities issued a European Arrest Warrant. Officers from Spain’s National Police worked alongside members of the Garda Síochána, who travelled to the island to assist with the operation.

 

Investigators believe the suspect played a central role within the Dublin-based gang, which has been at the centre of a long-running and violent feud with the Kinahan organisation. The conflict, which began in 2016, has resulted in at least 18 deaths, many of them linked to the Hutch network.

 

Police sources indicated that the man is thought to have been responsible for gathering and managing intelligence for the group, as well as being involved in overseeing financial activities alongside a close family member. His position within the organisation is described as senior, placing him among the key figures under investigation.

 

The suspect had been on the radar of ENFAST, the European network that tracks down high-risk fugitives across borders. This international cooperation played a major part in locating him on the island and carrying out the arrest so quickly after the warrant was issued.

 

The case adds to a growing list of operations linked to the Hutch group in Spain. In October 2024, alleged gang leader Gerard Hutch, known as “The Monk”, was also detained in Lanzarote along with several others as part of an investigation into offences including drug trafficking, human trafficking and money laundering.

 

Authorities have confirmed that enquiries are ongoing, with both Spanish and Irish police continuing to work together to target the wider network and its operations.

 

Image: Policia Nacional