Former Rochdale doorman branded Kinahan cartel 'enforcer' in US government sanctions against infamous Irish cartel

A notorious Greater Manchester-raised expat is among seven alleged members of the Kinahan cartel sanctioned by the US government. John Francis Morrissey, aka Johnny Morrissey, is the Irish gang's 'enforcer' and money launderer who 'facilitates international drug shipments' from south America into Europe for the gang, according to the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Said to have worked for the cartel for 'several years', the M.E.N. understands Ireland-born Morrissey, 62, was raised in Rochdale and spent much of his early life earning a fearsome reputation in Manchester before moving to Marbella in Spain. A Glasgow-based vodka company he is linked to has also been designated as part of the US sanctions.

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Morrissey is the 'brand ambassador' for Nero Drinks but 'controls and operates' the company through the primary shareholder, his wife, according to the US Treasury. She is 'used as a frontperson for his interests'. Nicola Margaret Morrissey, 46, is listed as the company's sole director, according to Companies House.

The OFAC states Johnny Morrissey 'has given a significant portion of the business' to Daniel Kinahan, said to run 'day-today operations' for the gang, to 'compensate for loads of drugs seized by law enforcement'. Dubai-based Daniel Kinahan has also been sanctioned

Kinahan 'instructed' other gang members to send money to serving prisoners including one serving time for murder, according to the US Treasury.

"Daniel Kinahan, who sources large quantities of cocaine from South America, plays an integral part in organizing the supply of drugs in Ireland, and is attempting to facilitate the