Thomas Kavanagh Sentenced for Arms Plot

Thomas Kavanagh, a 57-year-old senior figure in the Kinahan organized crime group, has been sentenced to six years in prison for orchestrating an arms cache plot while incarcerated. He aimed to influence his sentencing in a multimillion-pound drug smuggling case by leading the National Crime Agency (NCA) to a buried stash of 11 weapons, including machine guns and an assault rifle. Kavanagh's conspiracy involved enlisting the help of his brother-in-law, Liam Byrne, and associate Shaun Kent, who were also sentenced. Their plot came to light after the NCA intercepted incriminating messages on the encrypted communication platform EncroChat, which had been cracked by French authorities. Despite Kavanagh's efforts to manipulate the situation, the NCA's intervention thwarted his plan, which was described as organized crime at a high level. All three defendants admitted to the conspiracy ahead of their trial at the Old Bailey.