The Kinahan crime cartel is a key player in the European drugs trade, and their war with the Hutch crime group reflects escalating gang violence in Europe, say EU drugs and police agencies. In a major report, the agencies said the EU drugs trade is now worth at least €30b a year, up from €24bn in 2016. They said the cocaine trade is driving the surge and is now worth €9.1bn, at a minimum, compared to €5.7bn in 2016, up 60%. Irish data on seizures, treatment and drug deaths point to a significant rise in the cocaine trade here. Fassih was arrested in Dublin in 2016 in a “safe house operated by the Kinahan gang, key players in the drugs trade”.

Source: Irish Examiner November 27, 2019 06:00 UTC