Mobster Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh and his sidekicks face sentencing delay for trafficking plot

MOBSTER Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh will have to wait until next year to learn his fate, when he will finally be sentenced for conspiracy to import class A and B drugs and money laundering.

Despite pleading guilty at a UK court in July 2020, his sentence hearing has been hit with a series of delays - along with those of his co-accused Gary Vickery and Daniel Canning.

The Kinahan Cartel-linked mobster had pleaded guilty but disputed the amounts of drugs submitted by the prosecution.

It was also delayed by Covid travel restrictions after both Vickery and Canning had been given bail which allowed them to travel to Lanzarote and Dublin respectively.

Kavanagh was the only member of the trio at the proceedings in Ipswich Crown Court yesterday amid concerns a video link could be established from his prison.

Vickery and Canning appeared from prison on remote links during the brief hearing, at which a date was set up for a final sentencing hearing in March next year.

Only Vickery spoke to say "Thank you, your Honour" when Judge Martyn Levett remarked that he had a received a letter from him, but did not refer to its contents.

He had been arrested in the Canaries last month in a joint operation between Spanish and UK police after his continued failure to turn up at court.

He didn't appear when he was due to be remanded in custody, and at the end of July a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He subsequently failed to surrender to the court again at a further hearing on September 27 this year.

He was escorted back to the UK on a flight by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Friday's hearing was his first appearance in court since his arrest.

Canning went back into custody earlier this after he flew to the UK. He had expected to be arrested at the airport but instead made his own way to court.

Canning also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The conspiracy involved a plot to ship £23 million worth of heroin and cannabis into the UK.

The NCA has described the men as alleged associates of the Kinahan Cartel, "an alleged major international drug-smuggling network" that originated in Ireland with bases in the UK, Spain and Dubai.

The trio are not only facing prison terms of up to 20 years but also a probe into their assets, which will result in financial demands by a judge estimated on their wealth.

If they don't pay their fines they can expect years to be added to their sentences under the UK system.

Also known as 'Flash Gary', Vickery - who owns a limited-edition Sunseeker Superhawk power boat, featured in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace - has also attracted the attention of Spanish police.

They began a probe after he began buying up high-end boats and trying to move in on the island's long-established pleasure cruise industry.

The Guardia Civil were investigating Vickery's dodgy dealings while he was wanted back in the UK after his 2020 UK conviction, according to Sunday World sources.

The dismantling of Bomber Kavanagh's crew has been massive blow to the mobster, as well to the Kinahan Cartel.

The so-called 'Bomb Squad' had a turnover of more than €100m over the past decade, according to Sunday World sources.

Kavanagh and others invested heavily in property and businesses in Spain, as well as in the UK, in order to launder their drug money.

The majority of Kavanagh's inner criminal circle are now behind bars or facing lengthy prison sentences.

Bomber is currently serving a three-year prison in the UK after being caught with a stun gun, but could face a significant sentence in relation to the drugs importation.