Honoured aircraft pilot breaking bad: two Hungarian smugglers caught in Ireland
Hungarian smugglers were arrested in December 2023 by Irish authorities for illegally transporting 60 kilograms of heroin, valued at HUF 3 billion (EUR 7,500,000), into the country via a small plane. The arrests occurred at Weston Airport, with one suspect found aboard the plane where the drugs were discovered and the other apprehended in a nearby SUV.
According to HVG, the confiscated plane looked similar to a Hungarian Cessna 210 allegedly belonging to an individual who claimed to have left it in the care of a friend a week prior. The plane’s owner has yet to be officially notified by authorities regarding its confiscation. According to Irish authorities, the confiscated heroin was smuggled into the country on behalf of a Dublin-based family crime organisation reportedly linked to the notorious Kinahan cartel, Ireland’s largest criminal syndicate, whose leaders have been sought by authorities for decades.
The suspected smugglers
One of the smugglers is suspected to be Zoltán N., a retired aircraft pilot with a reputation in Hungarian aircraft operations according to HVG. This information was later confirmed by both the Irish press and the court. The retired Majos is a celebrated figure among Hungarian fighter pilots, attaining legendary status for intercepting a Serbian MiG-21 and compelling it to leave Hungarian airspace during the South Slavic war in July 1994.
Despite his retirement, he remained prominent in aviation circles, participating in media engagements and offering insights on various aviation-related topics, including the war in Ukraine and the state of MIG-29s. Zoltán N. is known for his expertise, as he continued to engage in aviation activities, including flight simulations and demonstration flights, sharing his experiences with curious civilians. The small plane seized in the recent drug bust bears resemblance to a Hungarian-registered Cessna 210, potentially implicating him.
Zoltán N. testified that he was unaware that he was transporting drugs, he believed he was transporting materials for the production of special microchips.
Additionally, the other suspected smuggler, Ignác Á., was questioned in an Irish court and claimed that he was coerced into participating in the operation to safeguard his family. Both individuals opted not to seek release on bail.
The Kinahan Cartel
Established in the 1990s in Dublin by Christy ‘Dapper Don’ Kinahan, the Kinahan Cartel started as a mid-level criminal enterprise dealing primarily in drugs. Kinahan involved his sons in the business, which eventually expanded into a vast empire estimated to be worth around EUR 1 billion. The cartel operates across South America, Ireland, the UK, Spain and the United Arab Emirates. It has faced increased scrutiny with the recent arrest of alleged money launderer ‘Johnny Cash’ Morrissey in Spain, signalling mounting pressure on the organisation, as reported by Daily Mail.
The fate of the smugglers
As reported by RTL, on the final day of February 2024, Irish authorities granted release to Zoltán N., the pilot of the small plane, from custody. However, the detention of the other suspected smuggler, Ignác Á., was prolonged for an additional three months by a ruling from a Dublin court.
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