The Special Criminal Court has heard today a Sligo man directed a criminal gang of at least 20 members in operations like drug trafficking and money laundering.
Barry Young, of Geldof Drive in Cranmore, was arrested in Dublin Airport last year, while trying to board a plane to Spain, where his gang also operated from.
Mr Young was first caught dealing drugs in Sligo in 2003 and in the years that followed, he significantly expanded his operation and became the so-called "boss" of a Sligo/Leitrim based gang with over 20 associates.
Its criminal activities included drug dealing, the collection of cash owed, the enforcement of drug debts, the delivery of cash to suppliers, and money laundering.
The court heard violence was always a last resort for him but when people refused to pay up, he’d arrange for them to be intimidated, usually by causing damage to their property.
16 people have been arrested on the back of an investigation into his criminal enterprise. Over €600,000 in cash and drugs has been seized and a further €30,000 has been frozen in four bank accounts linked to the gang.
The maximum penalty for directing a gang like his is life imprisonment.
Barry Young will be sentenced in July.
