Another blow to Kinahans as senior gang member is arrested in Marbella

The man, who is in his 30s, was detained in Marbella, one of the key hubs for the international drug trafficking cartel.

He is suspected of involvement in at least one murder during the infamous Kinahan/Hutch feud, which claimed 18 lives. He is also suspected of involvement in the 2006 murder of Baiba Saulite, who was shot dead outside her home in Swords, Co. Dublin.

Multiple security sources described the man as a ‘disturbed’ individual who is "capable of anything".

"He has only known a life of crime and was a suspect in Baiba’s murder. He would have also been a teenager at that time. If he was capable of something like that all those years ago, you can have no doubt he’s gotten worse over the years," a source told Extra.ie.

The gangland figure remains in custody in Spain this morning. It is the latest significant blow to the leadership of the organized crime gang following the arrest of the cartel’s kingpin, Daniel Kinahan, in Dubai last week.

Kinahan remains in custody in Dubai as gardaí [Irish police] attempt to have him extradited to Ireland to face justice. It is understood gardaí wish to charge him with directing an international drug and weapons trafficking gang.

The Marbella arrest came just hours after Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly vowed to "relentlessly" pursue remaining members of the Kinahan Organized Crime Gang who have caused "murder and mayhem" in Ireland.

Speaking to the press at the Garda Representative Association (GRA) annual conference in Mayo, Mr Kelly issued a statement regarding the arrest of Daniel Kinahan, the first time ever a serving Commissioner had named the drug baron publicly.

The Commissioner said the remaining cartel leaders, Christy Kinahan Sr and Christy Jr, will also be hunted down, adding: "Our investigation into this group absolutely continues.

"This is certainly not an endpoint to us, and again, I certainly want to repeat that we’re going to be relentless around individuals who have caused murder and mayhem here in Ireland. [Those who] are responsible for a significant number of homicides, including two innocent people. That’s our focus."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.