Stock photo of armed gardai in Dublin and inset Gerry Hutch and Christy Kinahan

A notorious hitman has been arrested in Dublin carrying a list of key Hutch associates, details of their movements and various disguises.

Independent.ie can reveal that the wanted criminal, nicknamed 'The Butcher', was caught by Gardaí following a raid this morning and is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

The Estonian national, who is in his 50s, has been linked to crimes in several countries.

He had only recently arrived in the country and is not suspected of being involved in any previous attacks linked to the Kinahan gang.

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A senior source said: "This man had written details of Hutch associates and specific information about their movements.

"He also had a number of disguises."

The source said: "This man is [known worldwide] and it is suspected he was hired by the Kinahan cartel. He is a war veteran with military training."

It’s thought the Estonian moved to Spain’s Costa Del Sol in the 1990s and took up with the cartel in later years.

He has long denied any involvement in crime and has said his business interests lie in real estate.

Two Irish men were arrested as part of the same operation. Cocaine worth approximately €5,000 was also recovered.

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One of the Irish men is being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. The second man is being held on suspicion of possession of drugs.

The men are being held under anti gangland legislation.

Members of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, supported by the Special Crime Task Force carried out the raid in Blakestown, West Dublin shortly after 11am.

The men are being held at stations in West Dublin.

Gardaí have not located a weapon at this stage but searches are ongoing.

The Irish men arrested are aged in their 30s and 50s and a source said they were known members of the Kinahan crime cartel.

They are both living in Dublin.

The younger man is being questioned in relation to the drugs seizure while the older man is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to murder under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Both he, and the foreign national, can be held for up to seven days.

A source said the Estonian man arrived in the last number of days.

In a statement this evening gardai confirmed investigations are ongoing.

"Gardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by members of the Special Crime Task Force, Emergency Response Unit and Armed Support Unit carried out a planned search of a premises in West Dublin this morning, Tuesday 4th April 2017 shortly before 11am," the statement said.

"Two of the men arrested, both late 50s, are currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. The third man, early 30s, was arrested following the discovery of cocaine with an estimated value of €5,000, pending analysis. He is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984."

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