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Notorious gangster George “the Penguin” Mitchell, who made millions from drug dealing, is demanding the old age pension.

The 66-year-old, linked to several murders, has applied to the Department of Social Protection for the handout.

The drug godfather claims he is entitled to up to €230 a week from the taxpayer because he once worked in a Dublin chocolate factory that made Penguin bars.

But the Mirror has learned there might be no nest egg for him as he may not have enough stamps to claim the full Contributory Pension so will be subjected to a means test.

The Penguin might have to show his bank accounts to the Department of Social Protection to prove he has no other source of income.

It has emerged the gangster, who gardai say is one of Europe’s biggest drug dealers, contacted officials through a firm of London solicitors.

But alarm bells rang when they realised the would-be pensioner was a criminal who had been involved in the importation of millions of euro worth of illegal substances for decades.

The Criminal Assets Bureau was alerted and officers contacted the Penguin who was informed he would have to be interviewed.

A source said: “Every Irish citizen is entitled to a pension but whether Mr Mitchell gets one or not is another matter.

“If he has enough contributions [stamps] he will receive a Contributory Pension which is subject to tax but is not means tested. But if he does not have enough contributions he is unlikely to get the full pension and will have to be means tested as would anyone else.

“He would have to show if he had other sources of income and might have to explain how he made his living since he left the Irish workforce.”

Sources have revealed that after the Kinahan cartel, Mitchell has been the second biggest importer of drugs into the country.

It is understood the Penguin, who travels between the Netherlands and Spain, is terrified of having to give an address to the CAB and Department of Social Protection.

Mitchell has connections with the Kinahans but also had links to Gerry “the Monk” Hutch.

However, he made it clear to Christy Kinahan last year he did not want to be dragged into the bloody feud that has so far claimed 12 lives.