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The Irish Sun
09-08-2025
- The Irish Sun
Fresh blitz on Dublin Airport human trafficking gangs as immigration Gardai ‘doorstop' fliers & ‘violent' smuggler caged
THIS is the moment Gardai launched a fresh blitz on people-smuggling gangs at Dublin Airport. Our exclusive images show Garda National Immigration Bureau officers and staff from the Border Management Unit checking passengers straight off flights last Wednesday — as part of 'Operation Honeygate'. 5 The Garda National Immigration Bureau are carrying out passenger checks on arrival Credit: Gary Ashe 5 Some 24 international flights were checked last week Credit: Gary Ashe The 'doorstops' initiative aims to 'disrupt and identify' transnational organised crime gangs trying to bring people into Ireland illegally through the country's main airport. As part of the 'doorstops' strategy, immigration officers meet passengers as soon as they step off flights to check they have all the necessary documents to enter the State. During last week's operation, immigration checks were completed on 24 international flights involving 3,980 passengers. Our photos also show some of the bogus documents and cash seized from the smugglers, who operate all over Europe. People pay gangs up to €20,000 to be smuggled into Ireland illegally. Last year, 7,325 'doorstops' were undertaken by officers at the airport. Det Chief Supt Aidan Minnock, who has responsibility for GNIB, told how smugglers were exploiting 'desperate and vulnerable' people. He said: 'The people who are being smuggled into Ireland are merely a commodity to the organised crime groups. 'We are investigating organised crime groups who are operating right across the world — they are adaptable, agile and we implement different strategies to target them.' He added: 'They are exploiting the most vulnerable in our society and it is a priority for us to target these organised crime gangs. 'Elements of the organised crime groups are based in Ireland and they have facilitators who arrange the final leg of a journey. PASSENGERS HIDING 'Many of those individuals who pay to enter Ireland illegally then become victims of human trafficking — and often experience sexual and labour exploitation.' Mr Minnock, whose teams work closely with other specialist Garda units, Interpol and Europl and the Department of Justice, welcomed Operation Honeygate's impact. The cop, who has over 30 years policing experience, added: 'The doorstop strategy at Dublin Airport greatly assists Operation Honeygate. 'In the past, we would have had people get off flights, hide in toilets and then join different queues. 'But now we can establish what flight they were on, who booked the flight and identify the facilitators who often fly on the planes.' He said the objective of Operation Honeygate is 'to be pre-emptive in identifying and targeting individuals and organised crime groups who are actively involved in the coordination and commission of people smuggling offences through Dublin Airport'. Mr Minnock continued: 'Our team at Dublin Airport, led by Det Sgt Keith Cleary, has done fantastic work in combating this criminal enterprise. 'We are prosecuting 80 per cent of the people we arrest.' SMUGGLER CAUGHT A key people smuggler caught this year was 'violent' Albanian gangster Adrini Kuqi, 39. On January 17, Kuqi — who was jailed for ten years in the UK after he was caught with €1.2million worth of cocaine, a firearm and the equivalent of €14,000 in cash in 2016 — was nabbed trying to leave Dublin Airport for Barcelona with a false Greek passport and Greek driving licence. Kuqi — classified by the UK's National Crime Agency as a member of a violent Albanian crime network — later received a six-month sentence. Gardai also established he'd been deported from the UK twice and had used Ireland's common travel area to move between Europe and the UK. 5 Adrini Kuqi was caught this year Credit: NCA Others who have received jail sentences in Ireland include people from Sweden, Belgium, Malawi and the UK. Since the start of new people smuggling legislation in 2022, cops here can now charge someone if they 'produce, procure, provide, possess or control a fraudulent travel or identity document' for entering Ireland illegally. Before 2022, Gardai could only charge suspected people smugglers if they could prove they had benefited financially from the crime. SHOCK STATS Following the introduction of the new laws, ten suspects were identified, arrested and charged in relation to 16 smuggling incidents involving 22 victims. In 2023, 18 suspects were charged in relation to 21 smuggling incidents involving 40 victims. Last year, 26 suspects were also charged in relation to 30 smuggling incidents involving 42 victims. We are prosecuting 80 per cent of the people we arrest.' Det Chief Supt Aidan Minnock So far this year, 18 suspects were identified and arrested, with 17 of them being charged in relation to 13 incidents involving 22 victims. Since 2022, prosecutions have been taken against 64 organised people smugglers, with another three currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions. And as part of efforts to crackdown on the crime, the DPP has a specialist section to examine files on the issue. Other statistics show there has been a 160 per cent increase in the volume of smuggling operations between 2022 and 2024. CLAMPDOWN This latest phase of the operation comes after 17,297 passengers were examined over three days in May. During that time, Gardai targeted 116 flights and identified ten people who were trying to enter the State illegally, including a child. Those identified included an Irish female facilitator who tried to bring a man from the Congo using a Spanish ID card. Another included a member of a Nigerian organised crime group who was organising the smuggling of four people into Ireland. And another was a man from Georgia who was attempting to bring two children into the State without proper visas. As part of the overall effort to combat people smuggling, an Airport Liaison Officer has just been posted to Lisbon Airport. They will check passengers travelling to Ireland have the required legal documents. If they establish a passenger doesn't, they then inform the airline — who can then be hit with a €2,500 fine per 'illegal' passenger. The officer was posted this year after another one was posted to Madrid Airport last year. Alongside Operation Honeygate, GNIB teams also run 'Operation Sonnet' — to stop people entering the State illegally from the north. The main priorities for the GNIB are deportations, the removal of people who are illegal in the State — including those with deportation orders against them — people smuggling investigations and operations targeting immigration crime. 5 Det Chief Supt Aidan Minnock said smugglers were exploiting vulnerable people Credit: Garrett White
Irish Examiner
07-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Suspect sex offender used 27 aliases abroad before posing as minor in Ireland, court told
A suspected sex offender with an unconfirmed identity used 27 aliases in the UK and France before arriving in Ireland, where he attempted to impersonate a minor, a court has heard. The man, claiming to be in his 30s and from Syria, who has been in the country for at least a year, was charged on Wednesday with failing to tell authorities his address under the Sex Offenders Act. He was held pending his appearance at Cloverhill District Court, where Judge Patricia Cronin heard that gardaí remain uncertain about the latest name he has given, and he has allegedly been linked to various other identities used abroad. Clontarf Garda Patrick Watson told a contested bail hearing that the man was arrested in Dublin but would not give his name, resulting in extensive enquiries at a national and international level. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) had no record of him under the name he had given. Colleagues in Cork alerted him that the accused was known there under a different name, and extra enquiries were made with Interpol, revealing the accused had six separate identities in France and 21 in the UK, and another four in Ireland. Garda Watson said the man, who cannot currently be named for legal reasons, was also subject to the obligations of the sex offenders register. The court heard gardaí have yet to establish exactly how long the man, who has no passport, has been in the state. The court heard that at one stage he contacted Tusla claiming to be a minor, and the child and family agency "carried out tests and established that this was not the case". The court heard he never presented to the GNIB or international protection services. Garda Watson maintained that the accused, who did not address the court, was elusive when asked to give his background information. The defence stressed the man denied being the person named on the charge sheet, but the prosecuting garda replied: "The fingerprints say otherwise." His barrister submitted that the accused still enjoyed the presumption of innocence, and would obey strict bail conditions and lodge €500, all his money. The defence said he had no passport, but the garda said he could not be sure that was the case. The offence carries a maximum 12-month sentence. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail and will appear again next week to formally enter a plea and have a later hearing date set if he contests the charge. Disclosure of prosecution evidence was ordered. Bail ruling In her bail ruling, Judge Cronin noted the prosecution evidence, defence submissions and case law stating conditions should always be considered to avoid having to refuse bail, if that is possible. She set his bond at €500 and required approval of a €1000 independent surety. The accused must also provide a confirmed address, mobile phone number, and a valid identity document. If the terms are met, he can be released but must sign on daily and obey a 10pm to 7am curfew. He also has to stay in custody for several months in relation to other proceedings.
The Journal
07-08-2025
- The Journal
Suspected sex offender used 27 aliases in UK and France before arriving in Ireland, court hears
A SUSPECTED SEX offender with an unconfirmed identity used 27 aliases in the UK and France before arriving in Ireland, where he attempted to impersonate a minor, a court has heard. The man, claiming to be in his 30s and from Syria, and has been in the country for at least a year, was charged yesterday with failing to tell authorities his address under the Sex Offenders Act. He was held pending his appearance at Cloverhill District Court, where Judge Patricia Cronin heard that gardaí remain uncertain about the latest name he has given, and he has allegedly been linked to various other identities used abroad. Clontarf Garda Patrick Watson told a contested bail hearing that the man was arrested in Dublin but would not give his name, resulting in extensive enquiries at a national and international level. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) had no record of him under the name he had given. Colleagues in Cork alerted him that the accused was known there under a different name, and extra enquiries were made with Interpol, revealing the accused had six separate identities in France and 21 in the UK, and another four in Ireland. Garda Watson said the man, who cannot currently be named for legal reasons, was also subject to the obligations of the sex offenders register. The court heard gardaí have yet to establish exactly how long the man, who has no passport, has been in the state. The court heard that at one stage, he contacted Tusla, claiming to be a minor, and the child and family agency 'carried out tests and established that this was not the case'. The court heard he never presented to the GNIB or international protection services. Advertisement Garda Watson maintained that the accused, who did not address the court, was elusive when asked to give his background information. The defence stressed the man denied being the person named on the charge sheet, but the prosecuting garda replied, 'the fingerprints say otherwise'. His barrister submitted that the accused still enjoyed the presumption of innocence, and would obey strict bail conditions and lodge €500, all his money. The defence said he had no passport, but the Garda said he could not be sure that was the case. The offence carries a maximum 12-month sentence. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail and will appear again next week to formally enter a plea and have a later hearing date set if he contests the charge. Disclosure of prosecution evidence was ordered. In her bail ruling, Judge Cronin noted the prosecution evidence, defence submissions and case law stating conditions should always be considered to avoid having to refuse bail, if that is possible. She set his bond at €500 and required approval of a €1,000 independent surety. The accused must also provide a confirmed address, mobile phone number, and a valid identity document. If the terms are met, he can be released but must sign on daily and obey a 10pm to 7am curfew. He also has to stay in custody for several months in relation to other proceedings.
BreakingNews.ie
07-08-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Suspected sex offender used 27 aliases abroad before posing as a minor in Ireland
A suspected sex offender with an unconfirmed identity used 27 aliases in the UK and France before arriving in Ireland, where he attempted to impersonate a minor, a court has heard. The man, claiming to be in his 30s and from Syria, has been in the country for at least a year, and was charged on Wednesday with failing to tell authorities his address under the Sex Offenders Act. Advertisement He was held pending his appearance at Cloverhill District Court, where Judge Patricia Cronin heard that gardaí remain uncertain about the latest name he has given, and he has allegedly been linked to various other identities used abroad. Clontarf Garda Patrick Watson told a contested bail hearing that the man was arrested in Dublin but would not give his name, resulting in extensive enquiries at a national and international level. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) had no record of him under the name he had given. Colleagues in Cork alerted him that the accused was known there under a different name, and extra enquiries were made with Interpol, revealing the accused had six separate identities in France and 21 in the UK, and another four in Ireland. Advertisement Garda Watson said the man, who cannot currently be named for legal reasons, was also subject to the obligations of the sex offenders register. The court heard gardaí have yet to establish exactly how long the man, who has no passport, has been in the state. The court heard that at one stage, he contacted Tusla, claiming to be a minor, and the child and family agency "carried out tests and established that this was not the case". The court heard he never presented to the GNIB or international protection services. Garda Watson maintained that the accused, who did not address the court, was elusive when asked to give his background information. Advertisement The defence stressed the man denied being the person named on the charge sheet, but the prosecuting Garda replied, "The fingerprints say otherwise." His barrister submitted that the accused still enjoyed the presumption of innocence, and would obey strict bail conditions and lodge €500, all his money. The defence said he had no passport, but the Garda said he could not be sure that was the case. The offence carries a maximum 12-month sentence. Advertisement He was remanded in custody with consent to bail and will appear again next week to formally enter a plea and have a later hearing date set if he contests the charge. Disclosure of prosecution evidence was ordered. In her bail ruling, Judge Cronin noted the prosecution evidence, defence submissions and case law stating conditions should always be considered to avoid having to refuse bail, if that is possible. She set his bond at €500 and required approval of a €1000 independent surety. The accused must also provide a confirmed address, mobile phone number, and a valid identity document. If the terms are met, he can be released but must sign on daily and obey a 10pm-7am curfew. He also has to stay in custody for several months in relation to other proceedings.
Irish Times
07-08-2025
- Irish Times
Suspected sex offender used 27 aliases in UK and France before arriving in Ireland
A suspected sex offender with an unconfirmed identity used 27 aliases in the UK and France before arriving in Ireland, where he attempted to impersonate a minor, a court has heard. The man, who claims to be in his 30s and from Syria , has been in the country for at least a year. He was charged on Wednesday with failing to tell authorities his address under the Sex Offenders Act. He was held pending his appearance at Cloverhill District Court, where Judge Patricia Cronin heard that gardaí remain uncertain about the latest name he has given. He has been linked to various other identities used abroad. Garda Patrick Watson told a contested bail hearing the man was arrested in Dublin but would not give his name, resulting in extensive inquiries at national and international level. READ MORE The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) had no record of him under the name he had given. Colleagues in Cork indicated that the accused was known there under a different name. Extra inquiries were made with Interpol, revealing the accused had six separate identities in France and 21 in the UK, and another four in Ireland. Garda Watson said the man, who cannot currently be named for legal reasons, was also subject to the obligations of the sex offenders register. The court heard gardaí have yet to establish exactly how long the man, who has no passport, has been in the State. The court heard that at one stage he contacted Tusla , claiming to be a minor. The child and family agency 'carried out tests and established that this was not the case'. The court heard he never presented to the GNIB or international protection services. Garda Watson maintained the accused, who did not address the court, was elusive when asked to give his background information. The defence stressed the man denied being the person named on the charge sheet, but the prosecuting garda replied: 'The fingerprints say otherwise.' His barrister submitted the accused still enjoyed the presumption of innocence, and would obey strict bail conditions and lodge €500, all his money. The offence carries a maximum 12-month sentence. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail and will appear again next week to formally enter a plea and have a later hearing date set if he contests the charge.
