The boss of the Kinahan organised crime group, Thomas Kavanagh, along with two key members, devised a plan to create a fake arms cache in hopes of securing a lighter prison sentence. Kavanagh, described as a high-ranking member involved in drugs, firearms, and money laundering, lived in a fortified mansion in the UK where he ran his criminal empire. Facing a lengthy jail term for drug trafficking, he attempted to deceive the UK National Crime Agency by enlisting his brother-in-law and another accomplice to help him uncover the alleged weapons stash. However, the plan was thwarted when French police dismantled the encrypted communication system used in the scheme.
In the end, Kavanagh, Byrne, and Kent pleaded guilty to charges related to the conspiracy and perverting the course of justice. Kavanagh was ultimately sentenced to 21 years in prison, with the others awaiting sentencing. The elaborate scheme serves as a cautionary tale of the lengths some criminals will go to in an attempt to manipulate the legal system.
