Several raids were executed in Ireland and Spain on Thursday morning, aiming at the Hutch criminal syndicate, suspected of engaging in illicit money transfers throughout different jurisdictions. In Spain, a total of ten searches were carried out, accompanied by officers from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) to assist Guardia Civil.
A single search took place in a Dublin residential property following the receipt of an International Letter of Request/ Mutual Legal Assistance (ILOR) from the Spanish law enforcement. This Dublin search was conducted by the GNBCI with a Guardia Civil officer present. The operation was backed by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
This activity is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Guardia Civil in Spain, focusing on the Hutch criminal syndicate operating in both Ireland and Spain. In June 2022, a prior raid focused on the Hutch group was carried out in Lanzarote by the Guardia Civil, representing the GNBCI.