Dutch seek extradition of man with Kinahan gang links, court hears

A Dutch-based criminal whose extradition from Ireland is sought by the Netherlands authorities, has connections to the Kinahan gang, a court heard on Friday.

Naoufal Fassih (35) was arrested at a Baggot Street, Dublin, apartment in April 2016 by gardaí seeking to clamp down on the Kinihans and their associates. The High Court was told Mr Fassih had an "extensive criminal record" in the Netherlands, where he lived.

Gardaí were let into the apartment by Mr Fassih who was unknown to them. Inside they found a fake Dutch passport, a fake Belgian identity card, phones, memory keys, €12,825 in cash, £300 in sterling, and three designer watches worth up to an estimated €90,000.

Two Rolexes were valued at €35,200, and €8,350 each. An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak limited edition Michael Schumacher watch valued at between €40,000 and €45,000 was also found.

Garda suspicions were heightened also by the fact Mr Fassih was wearing trainers with an estimated value of €800.

Counsel for the State, Ronan Kennedy, told the court that gardaí searching the apartment also found "various documents that can be related to the address of a known criminal family, organised crime gang – the Kinahans".

Criminal organisation

Searching the apartment, the gardaí found items that related to Mr Fassih’s connections “with a well-known criminal organisation”, said Mr Kennedy.

"Which connection?" asked Mr Fassih from the dock before being shushed by his barrister, John Byrne.

Mr Fassih, who is Dutch-Moroccan, small and bald, wore a black Nike T-shirt and sat mostly impassive throughout the proceedings.

A small quantity of cannabis was found during the apartment raid and Mr Fassih subsequently pleaded guilty to possession and to having false identity papers. He was sentenced to a month in prison.

Since then the Dutch authorities have sent three extradition warrants seeking his transfer to their custody in the Netherlands.

Yesterday, Mrs Justice Aileen Donnelly heard that the first related to Mr Fassih's alleged involvement in a fracas in October 2012 his arrest for which revealed he was carrying €10,740 in cash and a fake Dutch passport. The Dutch say the money is evidence of his involvement in money-laundering.

The second asserts that items found in the Baggot Street apartment further prove he is involved in money-laundering.

A third warrant relates to Mr Fassih's alleged role in ordering, and paying for, the November 2015 attempted murder in the Netherlands of Peter Raap, a gangland figure there. Mr Fassih is resisting extradition. Mrs Justice Donnelly said she would give her verdict next Thursday.