Ireland Case No. 1982Organised crime (unspecified) · Co. Dublin
Six men released in west Dublin organised crime investigation
Five men were arrested in west Dublin on 24 March 2025 and a sixth on 26 March as part of a Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau investigation into The Family, an international organised crime group led by two brothers from west Dublin. The operation, supported by Europol, the Guardia Civil and the ON Network, was based on intelligence from the Ghost encrypted messaging platform and led to the seizure of 314kg of cocaine and 220kg of marijuana in Spain along with four trucks and 12 luxury vehicles. All six men, aged in their 30s, 40s and 50s or 60s, were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 and released on 28 March. An investigation file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested24 Mar
7 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court24 Mar
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The investigation targets an international organised crime group known as The Family, based in west Dublin and led by two brothers from west Dublin who had been in the drugs trade for almost three decades.
- Six men were arrested, three of whom are related and comprise most of the top tier leadership, while the others fill key roles in technology and logistics.
- Thirty-two searches in Ireland led to the seizure of cocaine valued at €15.2 million, €350,000 in cash, €320,000 in cannabis, €100,000 in heroin and cryptocurrency.
- In Spain, 314kg of cocaine valued at about €25 million and 220kg of marijuana were seized along with four trucks and 12 luxury vehicles fitted with secret compartments.
- Where
- The arrests took place in the Dublin and Eastern Garda Regions, with a parallel operation in Castellón de la Plana, Spain.
- When
- Five men were arrested on Monday 24 March 2025 and a sixth on 26 March 2025; all six were released on 28 March 2025.
- Investigation
- The operation was led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and supported by Europol, the Guardia Civil and the ON Network, based on intelligence from the Ghost encrypted messaging platform.
- Charges
- The men face alleged offences contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
- In court
- An investigation file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Other details
- The sixth man is described as aged in his 50s in the article body but in his 60s in the subheadline.
- The gang has taken over from the Kinahan cartel as the biggest drugs gang in Ireland and has been active in drug dealing for over two decades.
82 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe investigation targets an international organised crime group based in West Dublin. (garda.ie)
- whatAll six males arrested this week have been released from custody. (garda.ie)
- whatFive men were arrested in Dublin as part of a major investigation into a criminal gang. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThree senior members of a Dublin-based drugs gang known as The Family were arrested during early morning raids. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA number of other people linked to the gang were also detained in the same operation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe 32 searches led to the seizure of cocaine valued at €15.2 million, €350,000 in cash, €320,000 in cannabis, €100,000 in heroin and some cryptocurrency. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe arrested men were aged in their 30s, 40s and 60s. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFive men were arrested by the GNDOCB as part of an ongoing investigation into an International Organised Crime Group based in west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe arrested men are aged in their 30s, 40s and 60s. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe gang supplies cannabis, heroin and cocaine and makes millions of euro per month. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe gang is led by two brothers from west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe gang has taken over from the Kinahan cartel as the biggest drugs gang in Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe ERU breached several houses during the operation. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí believe the cocaine seizure was orchestrated by The Family. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA sixth man was arrested in the Dublin Region in connection with the international organised crime group investigation. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe arrested man is aged in his 50s (subheadline states 60s). (dublinlive.ie)
- whatFive other men were arrested on Monday and continue to be detained at Garda stations across the Dublin and Eastern Garda Regions. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe operation targets an international organised crime group based in west Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe Family gang had amassed considerable wealth and influence before the operation dismantled its hub in Spain. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSix men were arrested by the Garda, including three leaders of the gang. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDrugs valued at about €30 million were seized in Spain in various stages of being readied for smuggling to Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe group hid drugs in vacuum-sealed containers in the false bottoms of luxury cars and trucks with semi trailers and Irish registration plates. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang vacuum-packed cocaine and herbal cannabis and hid them in secret compartments in cars and trucks for smuggling to Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEach drugs run involved drugs valued at millions of Euro, mostly cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo consignments of cocaine with a combined value of almost €20 million were found in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe criminals smuggled cocaine and marijuana across the Continent in vehicles equipped with custom-made secret compartments and cloned number plates. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Family drugs gang is headquartered in Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whatFour trucks and 12 luxury vehicles were seized in Spain (irishtimes.com)
- what314kg of cocaine valued at about €25 million was seized (irishtimes.com)
- what220kg of marijuana was seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang is led by brothers from west Dublin who had been in the drugs trade for almost three decades (irishtimes.com)
- whatSix men were arrested in Dublin on Monday (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree of the suspects are related and comprise most of the top tier leadership (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe other arrested men fill key roles in technology and logistics (irishtimes.com)
- whatSix men were arrested during raids targeting a Dublin drug gang. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe six men were released from custody. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into an international organised crime group based in west Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe organised crime group under investigation is based in west Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe men were arrested in the Dublin and Eastern Garda Regions. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe arrests were made the morning the article was published. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe arrests took place on Monday morning, 24 March 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrests took place on the morning of Monday 24 March 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenOne consignment was found last September when the Australian-run host network was taken down, and another more recently. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe transnational investigation began late last year (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation is led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (garda.ie)
- investigationAn investigation file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau made the arrests as part of an ongoing probe. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe operation was supported by several garda units. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationAll Irish-related messages on the Ghost platform have been studied by the Garda. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationWhen the Ghost network was taken down last September, gardaí carried out 32 searches in the Republic. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda Stations across the Dublin and Eastern regions. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe raids are part of an investigation into a multi-million euro cocaine seizure made by Gardaí outside Dublin within the last year. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí have gathered significant evidence against key Family members, including data from encrypted phones. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man is detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe operation was supported by Europol, the Guardia Civil (Spain) and the ON Network. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationOfficers from Europol, the Guardia Civil and the ON Network were present and supporting Gardaí over the past 48 hours. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí deployed officers to Spain to support the Guardia Civil. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe Guardia Civil have arrested six suspects directly connected with the international investigation. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe Irish operation was led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe operation was based on information obtained when the Ghost encrypted platform was infiltrated last year. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe arrested men were still being questioned by detectives on Wednesday night. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are liaising with the DPP with a view to charging the arrested men (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation is led by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and is continuing. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeThe alleged offences are contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe men face alleged offences contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeSeveral people have already been charged over the drugs consignment. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man faces alleged offences contrary to the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe arrested men were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, allowing up to seven days of questioning without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA Garda spokesperson is not available for comment. (garda.ie)
- otherThe men are detained in garda custody at stations across the Dublin and eastern garda regions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe gang has been active in drug dealing for over two decades. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe encrypted platform Ghost was being used by organised crime gangs in Australia and across the world to communicate. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Family gang and men working in drug smuggling for the group in Ireland were using Ghost when it was compromised. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMore Irish criminals were using the Ghost platform than organised crime figures from any other country except Australia. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAbout 8 per cent of the 100 devices being used to access the Ghost platform were operating in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Family was one of four major drug trafficking gangs in Ireland compromised by the Ghost takedown. (irishtimes.com)
- otherOfficers are hopeful some of the gang leaders will be charged over the cocaine find. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe ON Network is funded by the EU Commission and led by the Italian Antimafia Investigation Directorate (DIA). (dublinlive.ie)
- otherSpain's Department of Treasury stated the network enjoyed a high economic status that facilitated collaboration and expanded its geographical sphere of influence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Family has become the biggest drugs gang in the Republic in recent years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe operations in Ireland and Spain resulted directly from the infiltration of the Ghost network, a supposedly secure messaging service run from Sydney. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA leading figure in the Family gang is already facing criminal charges after a large sum of cash and other assets were seized (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Mar2025Six arrested in raids targeting drug gang released with file to be sent to DPP
Six men released from custody; file to be prepared for DPP; investigation led by GNDOCB into an international organised crime group in west Dublin.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 27 Mar2025The Family gang’s cocaine smuggling operation was biggest servicing Irish market, say gardaí
Provides details on the Spanish raids at Castellón de la Plana, the scale of the seizure (314kg cocaine, 220kg marijuana, 4 trucks, 12 luxury vehicles), the gang's history since the Byrne group's demise, and the status of the six detained men awaiting DPP charges before their detention expires.
suspectsuspectsuspectsuspectsuspectsuspect - 27 Mar2025Spanish police say Ireland’s Family drugs gang ‘enjoyed high economic status and influence’
Provides detailed account of the Irish-Spanish operation, the Ghost network intelligence, the €30 million drug seizure in Spain, the gang's structure of about 20 people, and Europol's description of the gang as an 'Irish high-risk criminal network.'
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 26 Mar2025Sixth man arrested by Gardai targeting international crime group in Dublin
Reports the sixth arrest in the west Dublin international organised crime operation, noting the suspect is detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, that five other men arrested on Monday remain detained, and that the Guardia Civil have arrested six suspects in Spain directly connected to the investigation.
suspect, 50s, male - 24 Mar2025Watch armed gardai mount raids in crackdown on infamous 'The Family' gang
Initial report of the five arrests made during armed ERU raids targeting The Family gang, with details on the units involved, the link to a multi-million euro cocaine seizure, and the use of encrypted phone data as evidence.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 24 Mar2025Gardaí carry out raids on leadership of drugs gang known as The Family
Initial report of the raids and arrests, providing details on the Ghost platform connection, the gang's history as Ireland's leading drug importers, and the scale of the operation including the units involved.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 24 Mar2025Photos: Five men arrested in Dublin as part of major investigation into organised crime gang
First report of the arrests of five men in the GNDOCB operation against an organised crime group in west Dublin. No names or charges are given.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 24 Mar2025UPDATE ** - Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) arrest 5 males Targeting activities of Organised Crime Group in West Dublin, Monday 24th March 2025
Confirms that all six arrested males have been released from custody and that the investigation file will be prepared for the DPP. A Garda spokesperson is not available for comment.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male