Alleged leader of Ireland’s top drug trafficking mob to be charged with directing crime gang & set for c...
THE alleged leader of Ireland’s top drug trafficking mob The Family is set to appear before court this morning.
The 48-year-old was arrested at Dublin Airport yesterday and brought to a Garda station in the city centre where he was held overnight.
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He is due to appear before Dublin District Court, where he will be charged with directing the activities of an organised crime gang.
The development comes after the major investigation into the Ghost encrypted network by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
The Irish Sun first revealed in mid November that a file had been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions on the suspect and his associates.
The huge Garda probe has linked the alleged leader to number of hacked messages and named handles on the Ghost network, which was taken down by law enforcement in 2024.
The career-criminal was also placed holding meetings with significant figures for the facilitation of moving drugs and money.
It is suspected that he had a hands-on role in directing and overseeing a number of drug trafficking and money laundering operations in 2024.
Other evidence linked him to messages sent to The Family’s tech guru, who is suspected of supplying the group with the Ghost devices, ordering him to wipe data from the platform in a panic after law enforcement breached it.
The arrested man, involved in drugs for over two decades, has been a major Garda target for years.
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The case would mark the very first time there would be a trial in Ireland centred around encrypted messages.
A Garda spokesman said: “On Sunday 25th January 2026, investigating Gardaí attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) targeting activities of an Organised Crime Group in West Dublin arrested a male in his 40s.
“Following the arrest the male has been charged with offences in relation to organised crime activities.
“The male will appear before District Court 2, the Criminal Courts of Justice tomorrow, Monday 26th January 2026, at 10:30am.”
The case would mark the very first time there would be a trial centred around encrypted messagesCredit: Garrett White – The Sun Dublin
