Dubai cops probe gangland husband of Scots vodka queen linked to Kinahan crime cartel

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Dubai officials have joined a probe into the gangster husband of Scots vodka queen Nicola Morrissey.

Spanish investigators leading the probe into Kinahan crime cartel “key member” Johnny Morrissey’s business dealings have called on help from the Kinahans’ Middle East hideout.

The move comes as Mr Morrissey is waiting to hear whether he will face formal charges after becoming the first of the seven alleged leaders of the organised crime group to be arrested more than two years ago. The 64-year-old, held in September 2022 at an apartment near Marbella on suspicion of money laundering and membership of a criminal gang, was released on bail in June.

His 49-year-old Glasgow-born wife Nicola and a third suspect also being probed by a court in the Costa del Sol resort as part of the same investigation are also on conditional bail. Sources close to the case admitted today it was proving “complex” and declined to offer any information on when they thought the investigating magistrate could recommend charges and indictments might be submitted.

One well-placed insider said: “The investigation is proving to be complex and has international ramifications. This is slowing things down.”

Another said: “The court that’s leading this probe is awaiting the results of a rogatory commission sent to Dubai. All three people arrested remain on bail.”

Former Rochdale doorman Morrissey had to swap millionaire mansions and meet and greets with celebs for a tiny jail cell after being arrested in a dawn raid alongside his wife on September 12 2022. He was held six months after the US Treasury identified him in a list of Kinahan cartel key members, saying: “Morrissey has worked for the Kinahan organised crime group for several years, including as an enforcer, and facilitates international drug shipments for the organisation from South America. John Morrissey is also involved in money laundering.”

The dad-of-two was accused by police after his arrest in Marbella of using a firm called Nero Drinks to camouflage his alleged criminal activities. The Spanish Civil Guard, which led the operation against him through its elite UCO unit with support from other police forces including the Garda and National Crime Agency, said at the time they believed he had allegedly helped crime gangs launder up to £297,000 a day over the 18 months their investigation lasted.

The informal Hawala method of moving money said to have been used, originating from an Arabic term for transfer or trust and involving a network of brokers, is known to have been adopted by criminal gangs who use code numbers or tokens like banknotes torn in half to prove cash is due.

Outlining the role Nero Drinks played, the Civil Guard said in a statement after the Morrissey arrests: “The principal members of the organisation in Spain allegedly created a luxury vodka brand promoted at shows, parties and events at nightclubs and restaurants in luxury Costa del Sol environments, presenting it as a successful drinks brand.

“This couldn’t be further from reality because according to information from tax authorities, it couldn’t be funding the lifestyle of the people arrested. Similarly they allegedly created another firm in the UK which was dependent on another company created in Gibraltar, with the aim of hiding the true identity of the directors of the firms that were used to launder the money coming from Hawala.”

Morrissey was released from prison after lodging a £50,000 bail bond. Officials said at the time his release conditions included a ban on leaving the country and the surrender of his passport, an obligation to sign on at court twice a month and the designation of an address so he could receive court notifications.

Operation Shovel, the high-profile operation against the Kinahan crime cartel that came to the fore with the May 2010 arrests of Christy Kinahan Snr and his two sons on the Costa del Sol, hit the buffers when Spanish prosecutors turned to other countries for help.

It began in 2008 as a drugs and firearms probe before being widened to include money laundering in 2009. Ireland, Brazil and Cyprus responded to Spanish requests for assistance saying they had found no evidence of money laundering.

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The failure to get answers from the UK led to an investigating judge winding up his money laundering probe against the Operation Shovel suspects and lifting the threat of trial and prison hanging over most of them. Only five of the 31 suspects ended up being charged with minor offences. One, Christy Kinahan Snr, is facing trial for passport fraud but nearly 15 years after his arrest he has yet to be given his trial date.

Officials have not said what information is being sought from Dubai in relation to the ongoing Morrissey probe and it is not clear if other countries including the UK have been asked for assistance through rogatory commissions. Garda efforts to secure current cartel boss Daniel Kinahan’s extradition from the United Arab Emirates’ most populous city has intensified in recent months.

Recent reports pointed to the Kinahans hatching counter-plans which include a potential move to Russia, Iran or even North Korea if they get a tip-off authorities in the Middle East plan to move against them. Daniel's sworn enemy Gerry Hutch announced recently, after being bailed following his arrest in Lanzarote on suspicion of money laundering, that he was standing as a candidate in the November 29 Irish general election.

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