Finglas money launderer with ties to Hutch gang caught with €1.6m hidden in cars
A man seen by gangs as a “trusted” money launderer who used a taxi to disguise his involvement in criminality has been jailed over a €1.6m cash haul. Karl Duggan (38) was a target for gardaí investigating organised crime when he was arrested in January 2021 and the money was found hidden in two secret vehicle compartments. Detectives believe that Duggan operated on a “high-level” laundering money for crime gangs and also has ties to members of the Hutch group. The Finglas man was this week jailed for a total of six years following an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB). Detectives raided his north Dublin penthouse and also searched two vehicles in which vacuum-packed cash totalling over €1.6m was discovered.
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Paul Comiskey O’Keeffe BL, defending, said Duggan comes from a hard-working family. He witnessed the death of his brother in 2016, which the court heard worsened a long-standing drug problem. He has a perforated nasal septum as a result of his addiction to cocaine. Mr Comiskey O’Keeffe said Duggan is working on becoming drug-free and wishes to change his life. He has three small children and his father died late last year, the court heard. A number of testimonials were handed into court on his behalf.
6 years is not a sentence to be sniffed at!
His barrister said Karl has a perforated septum from cocaine abuse. After his sentence I'd be more worried about a perforated rectum.
Karl's taxi is now being driven by a man who unknowingly rents it in good faith.
Mohammed might want a larger rearview mirror.
Still, Karl can look forward to renting his taxi for in and around €13,000 a year before expenses. That circa €78,000 upon his release.
The licence is up for renewal on the 24th of February.
I wonder who is managing the licence for him?
A Dublin man has been remanded in custody after he was charged today, with possessing more than €1.6 million euro in crime proceeds two years ago.
Karl Duggan, 37, of Finn Eber Fort, Finglas, was arrested following an investigation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
He was arrested and taken to Coolock Garda station on Monday night.
Gardai charged him two hours later with 15 offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
He is accused of having alleged crime proceeds amounting to just over €1.6m at his address on January 17, 2021, as well as having drugs, including cannabis, cocaine and alprazolam, and possessing drugs with intent to supply.
He was held overnight and brought to appear before Judge Maire Conneely at Dublin District Court today.
Detective Garda Liam Mangan told the court that Mr Duggan “made no reply” to the charges and was handed true copies of them.
The GNDOCB detective confirmed he intended to object to bail.
However, defence solicitor Danny Nolan told Judge Conneely that his client wanted to defer his bail application and asked to be remanded in custody for one week.
A legal aid application was opened.
However, Detective Garda Mangan objected and asked the defendant to provide a statement of his means.
Judge Conneely remanded the accused in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on February 28.
The defence solicitor said his client had a statement of his means, but due to the garda objection, “maybe there will have to be a more precise statement of means”.
The accused, yet to indicate a plea, sat silently throughout the proceedings and was not required to address the court. His request for legal aid will be decided later.
Reporting by Tom Tuite
