Frederick Thompson (30), of Loreto Road, Maryland, in Dublin’s south inner city, is wanted by Spanish authorities to face charges of possession and trafficking of drugs and firearms.

 

DUBLIN man is to be extradited to Spain immediately after telling a judge he wanted to be sent there “straight away”. Frederick Thompson (30), of Loreto Road, Maryland, in Dublin’s south inner city, is wanted by Spanish authorities to face charges of possession and trafficking of drugs and firearms. He was arrested last week on foot of a European arrest warrant issued by a judge in Malaga on September 8th, 2010, which was endorsed by Mr Justice Michael Peart in the High Court in Dublin. Mr Thompson’s extradition arises from an investigation by Spanish authorities into a major international drugs gang led by Irish criminals based in southern Spain. In May 2010 the alleged key figures in the Irish-led gang were arrested in Spain on a day of co- ordinated police raids against suspected gang members in Spain, Ireland, the UK, Brazil and Belgium. The alleged gang leader, 54- year-old Dubliner Christy Kinahan, was one of those arrested, at his villa near Marbella. A convicted drug dealer, he was granted bail in Spain but has since been jailed in Belgium for money laundering. The other men arrested with him have also been bailed in Spain but the investigation into their activities is ongoing. The gang was believed to be a key wholesaler of drugs to gangs in Ireland. The international drug trafficking and money laundering investigation has found evidence that Kinahan and his associates had built a property portfolio worth in excess of €150 million. The properties are in Ireland, Spain, Dubai, South Africa, Brazil, Belgium, England and Cyprus. When Kinahan and the other gang members were arrested, the Spanish authorities drew up a list of 19 people they wanted to question about suspected involvement in his drugs gang. The man before the courts yesterday, Mr Thompson, was one of those suspects. It is alleged he was involved in sourcing firearms and that he worked as a chauffeur and bodyguard for Kinahan. Mr Thompson mainly lives in Ireland but has spent periods in Spain in recent years. Mr Justice John Edwards said the extradition order was to take immediate effect after Mr Thompson said he was waiving his right to remain in custody here for 10 days. Barrister Ronan Kennedy for the State said Mr Thompson’s surrender was sought for three offences. These were unlawful assembly, possession of weapons and arms trafficking, and drugs offences. The judge refused to grant Mr Thompson legal aid after an application from the State.