Gardaí plan to ‘take down’ top drug gang known as The Family

Gardaí made the forced stop in Clondalkin, west Dublin after gathering intelligence that there was an “imminent” threat to life. They swooped on the vehicle as it was thought to be heading for Tallaght, south west Dublin.

This was followed by a massive search operation targeting 18 locations throughout Dublin as well as two cells in Portlaoise Prison, all associated with The Family.

Garda HQ said more than 300 gardaí took part in the operation.

It was followed by a separate and unrelated forced stop of a car on the M8 near Glanmire by gardaí in Cork City on Wednesday. The operation, based on intelligence, resulted in a substantial haul, 12kg, of cocaine.

The operation against The Family is being led by Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB), working with Garda Crime and Security & Intelligence Service, including its secretive surveillance unit.

Homes and jail cells searched

One of the cells searched was that of Charles McClean, a Clondalkin man serving 20 years for conspiracy offences relating to three murders/attempted murders.

The other cell searched was that of a young man from Crumlin, south Dublin, who is serving a six-year sentence for handling and supplying a loaded handgun.

At least one of the three brothers that head The Family had their homes searched on Wednesday.

Gardaí recovered a significant amount of potential evidence in the searches and digital devices are being analysed by the Garda Computer Crime Bureau.

Gardaí hope this could reveal crucial information in relation to the attempted hit and potentially other gangland activities, including drug shipments.

If there are any devices that can’t be breached, gardaí can seek help from EU allies, such as the Dutch who have developed world-leading expertise in accessing encrypted technology.

Gardaí suspect feud link

Gardaí suspect Tuesday’s attempted hit may be linked to the gangland murder of Cormac Berkeley in Clondalkin in December 2022. Berkeley owed The Family a significant drug debt.

Gardaí suspect the feud between The Family and a Tallaght-based gang centres on the drugs trade and monies owed.

A Garda statement said the search of the car resulted in the recovery of a semi-automatic Glock pistol along rounds of 9mm ammunition. Two men were arrested.

The Family has dominated the heroin trade into Ireland for decades, and continue to do so, but in more recent years have taken over a huge slice of the lucrative cocaine trade.

Gardaí have identified The Family as the country’s “number one” gang. Sources said there was a dedicated effort effort to “take them down” and dismantle the group.

The Criminal Assets Bureau has repeatedly hit the gang.

This week’s operation follows previous investigations, which sources said will “intensify” in 2025.

Last September, a two-year international operation, involving Gardaí, revealed that “very powerful” crime groups across the globe, including The Family, were using the ‘Ghost’ encrypted phone network.

Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, head of Organised & Serious Crime, said Tuesday’s operation had removed a loaded firearm from circulation.

“An Garda Síochána believes the firearm was intended for use in the commission of murder(s),” she said. “An Garda Síochána will continue to prioritise targeting those that are the most violent and cause the most harm in communities.”