Gardai uses JCB to fight his way into the compound used by a motorcycle gang with ties to the murdered Kinahan cartel gangster David Byrne

GARDAI yesterday used a JCB bulldozer to make his way into a compound used by a motorcycle gang with ties to Kinahan cartel gangster murderer David Byrne.

And the Irish Sun may reveal that investigators managed to get the ESB to cut off power to the ‘Chosen Few’ headquarters during the morning raid in Crumlin, south of Dublin.

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Once they got through the heavily fortified main gate, the Gardai Emergency Response Unit of the Special Tactics Operations Command had to force their way through three more iron gates and secure the area.

Meanwhile, a team that scaled the back of the compound, which was also covered in razor-sharp wire, had to use pepper spray on a Rottweiler dog.

During the crackdown, two men were also arrested by the police on suspicion of money laundering. Two other women were on the property but were not arrested.

The Garda Air Support Unit, the Armed Support Unit and the Customs Dog Unit also participated in yesterday’s search.

A source said: “This is undoubtedly one of the most fortified compounds the Gardai has ever sought.

“There have been problems entering this facility in the past and that is why a JCB was brought in to remove the front door.

“This was a huge operation to enter and secure the site so it could be properly searched. No matter what kind of facility these guys build, the Gardai are still walking through the door. “

BIKE RAID

Three other properties covered by a state-of-the-art CCTV system were also searched during the dawn raid.

Also located within the complex is a clubhouse, dumpsters, and a run-down bar.

Police believe the properties were built without planning permission and a separate investigation is now underway.

Officials will now hold a meeting with Dublin City Council to discuss the homes.

During yesterday’s raid, gardai recovered ten high-end motorcycles, including a Harley-Davidson and a BMW.

A BMW car, a Ford Ranger jeep, a Volkswagen Scirocco and 4,000 euros in cash were also seized.

A Garda spokeswoman said yesterday: “The Office for Criminal Assets conducted a search operation in South Dublin.

“The search operation involved the search for a single heavily fortified compound.

“The operation is part of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Crumlin District Office of Criminal Assets and Detective Unit.

“During the operation, two men were arrested and detained for money laundering crimes.

“The search operation targeted a criminal group aligned with a series of Organized Crime Groups involved in drug trafficking and organized crime nationwide. It marks a significant advance in an ongoing investigation into money laundering and proceeds of crime. “

CHOSEN FEW THREATS

Gardai first targeted the cyclists after they were part of the procession at the funeral of gangster David Byrne.

He was beaten to death in the bloodbath at Dublin’s Regency hotel in February 2016.

Since then, members of the Chosen Few gang have been accused of threatening the local population in the Crumlin area.

They are also suspected of being involved in drug trafficking in the south of the capital.

Officers in Crumlin then attacked the gang under the command of Superintendent Frank Ferry. The CABs were recruited after the cyclists were seen driving 50,000 euro pigs, despite being unemployed.

The items were seized yesterday after they were suspected of having been purchased with the proceeds of crime. During a previous raid on the site in January, gardai recovered cash amounts of € 125,417, £ 7,600 and $ 674.

Yesterday’s crackdown also comes after the ERU and ASU attacked four gang members in January.

The men were picked up on Naas Road, on the outskirts of Dublin, after officers received information that the motorcyclists planned to target an associate.

They were taken from their car, handcuffed and placed on the ground by the police.

It is understood that they left the capital to attack a rival who lives in a remote area in the southeast.

Gardai said they received a report of an incident at a location in Clonroche, Co Wexford. But on the way back to Dublin, the suspects were caught before being released.

STOLEN VEHICLES

Although police are currently dealing with deadly fights between drug gangs and organized Traveler mobs across the country, motorcycle gangs are also firmly in the crosshairs.

Motorcycle teams, which are based primarily in Dublin, Wexford, Cork and Limerick, have been linked to the drug and arms trade.

They have also been repeatedly linked to the stolen automobile and motorcycle industry.

But Gardai has received intelligence in recent months that tensions are rising between the two main motorcycle gangs operating here. One source added: “Where there is crime there will also be paranoia and motorcycle gangs are no different.

“Motorcycle gangs are generally kept secret, but they have been involved in serious crimes over the years.

“They have been acting as muscles for drug gangs, but they are also known to act as vigilantes. They are inspired by the motorcycle gangs of the United States and some of them are dangerous criminals. “

FEAR OF THE RESIDENTS

Before his murder in the lobby of the Regency Hotel, Byrne was a regular visitor to the Crumlin compound. Due to the bully’s position with the gang, they brought a fleet of limousines to his funeral.

Since then, motorcyclists have also been spotted in the company of Byrne’s associates.

The motorcycle base was built on the corner site just over ten years ago. Gardai believes it was built on municipal property.

But once the motorcycle gang claimed the land, residents raised no objections because they feared what would happen.

The motorcyclists then moved the containers along with corrugated iron sheets to prevent people from looking inside.

An alley also runs through the facility.

In recent years, the enclosure has also been used as a garage to repair bicycles and cars.

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One resident told us: “It really is a strange place, nobody knows what happens.

“By all accounts, the bar and clubhouse they built has fallen into disrepair.

“There were no objections because people were concerned about retaliation.”