THE ALLEGED “HUTCH criminal gang leader” arrested in Lanzarote yesterday has said he will fight extradition to Ireland.

Spanish police released footage of yesterday’s detention this morning, showing the man being led away in handcuffs by an undercover local cop flanked by two Garda officers.

Describing him as “one of the leaders of the Hutch criminal organisation”, they said in a statement: “Spanish National Police, in conjunction with the gardaí, have arrested in Tias in Lanzarote a fugitive wanted over his membership of the Hutch criminal organisation.

“The arrested man was the individual named in a European Arrest Warrant and he was held 24 hours after the emission of an alert within the ENFAST network.

“He is considered to be one of the leaders of the criminal organisation’s intelligence cell, as well as managing money movements together with his father,” they said.

🚩Detenido uno de los líderes de la organización criminal #irlandesa “Hutch”

🔹El arrestado ha sido localizado en un municipio de la isla de #Lanzarote

🚔Estaba considerado como el líder de la célula de inteligencia de la organización y dirigía sus movimientos monetarios

👮… pic.twitter.com/JwOaLUZdk9

— Policía Nacional (@policia) April 9, 2026

“After being made aware of his possible presence in Spain, officers began an operation to locate him and were able to do so yesterday together with Garda officers who had travelled to Spain specifically for that purpose.”

Around midday today officials said he had already appeared in court and made it clear he didn’t want to be forcibly removed from Lanzarote and returned to Ireland.

He has now been remanded to prison by a Madrid-based judge at the Audiencia Nacional court which deals with extradition proceedings pending a final decision on his fate.

The official said: “The man arrested in Lanzarote yesterday has appeared before a duty judge by video from the capital Lanzarote.

“He has been remanded to prison. He has said he doesn’t accept extradition.”

His decision to fight extradition means a second hearing will now have to be held which will delay his return to Ireland but is unlikely to prevent it. No date for the new hearing has yet been set.

The detained man is understood to have been remanded to tough Tahiche Prison in Teguise.