Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch has been arrested in Lanzarote.
The 61-year-old was questioned by Spanish police yesterday as part of an international investigation into alleged money laundering.
Searches have also been carried out in Ireland and Spain as part of the investigation – including one search carried out at Hutch’s home in Clontarf in Dublin.
Police suspect the Hutch organised crime group is involved in “money laundering across a number of jurisdictions”.
The Irish Times reports that at least two people have been arrested in Spain as part of the operation – with Hutch one of those detained for questioning.
File photo showing Spanish police officers of the Guardia Civil at a crime in Almeria, Spain, 22-10-2024. Image: Alamy
The search at Hutch’s home in Clontarf was carried out on foot of an International Letter of Request (ILOR) from Spanish authorities.
The ten searches carried out in Spain saw Gardaí from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) assisting the Spanish Guardia Civil.
The Irish search in Ireland involved armed gardaí, CAB (Criminal Assets Bureau) officers, the GNBCI and an officer from the Guardia Civil.
The operation targeting the gang is part of an ongoing partnership between Irish and Spanish authorities
A previous search targeting the group was conducted in Lanzarote in June 2022 by Spanish police on behalf of the Gardaí.
