A senior member of the Kinahan organised crime group has been arrested in Spain on foot of a UK extradition warrant. 

Liam Byrne, aged 42, was arrested in Majorca yesterday evening.  

The arrest was part of the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation, supported by Spanish Police and An Garda Síochána. 

The NCA said Mr Byrne had travelled from Dubai to Majorca on May 26th.  

Another suspected member of the crime group, Jack Kavanagh, aged 22, from Staffordshire, was arrested by officers from the Spanish National Police on May 30th.  

"Significant development"

The Spanish police said that Byrne's criminal group had bought firearms to sell to other criminal organisations. 

Gardaí have called the arrest of Mr Byrne "a particularly significant development'' in the efforts to ''dismantle the operations of the Kinahan Crime Group''. 

The NCA said Mr Byrne is “thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group”. 

National Crime Agency

NCA Regional Investigations Head Kay Mellor said Mr Byrne and Mr Kavanagh had “evaded justice” for a number of years.  

“We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.” 

Mr Byrne is the current head of the Byrne organised crime group, a branch of the Kinahan group.  

He is the brother of David Byrne, who was shot at the Regency Hotel in 2016, allegedly in connection to feuds between the Kinahan crime family and the Hutch family.