Daniel Kinahan, the leader of the Kinahan cartel and a member of the “super cartel” that runs about a third of the European cocaine market, has been arrested in Dubai where he has lived openly for years.
It is understood he will face charges in Ireland related to the period of the Kinahan-Hutch feud.
Gardaí have always believed he directed much of the violence that unfolded in Ireland between 2015 and 2018 during the feud, which was linked to 18 murders.
He was arrested on Wednesday as part of a joint operation between the Garda and authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that was kept secret. The move could bring his criminal career to an end and perhaps fatally weaken the cartel he has controlled for years.
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In the biggest development in Irish organised crime for a decade, the Dubliner was taken into custody on foot of an extradition request from the Irish authorities.
Garda Headquarters confirmed the arrest of an Irish national. Though it did not name Kinahan, it said the operation was an example of how the force had remained “steadfast in our determination” to pursue those involved in organised crime “wherever they go” in the world.
“[The] arrest is another extremely important demonstration of the need for international law enforcement co-operation in tackling transnational organised crime,” it added.
In 2023 The Irish Times revealed that Kinahan was at the centre of a major Garda investigation into the cartel’s crimes in Ireland, with a file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Though a decision to charge him took almost three years, the DPP has directed the 48-year-old be charged with organised crime-related offences.
The process of charging and moving to secure his extradition has been conducted in secret in Ireland in recent days. Kinahan was arrested in Dubai on Wednesday, though news of his capture only emerged on Friday when the Garda and Dubai police announced he had been detained.
[ Why did the Kinahans not flee their Dubai base?Opens in new window ]
A warrant for his arrest, with a view to his extradition, was issued by the courts in Dublin earlier this week. It was passed to Dubai police, which then put in place a secret operation to locate and detain him as quickly as possible.
Dubai police said they responded immediately when they received “a judicial file from Irish authorities detailing the suspect’s alleged crimes” and his involvement in an international criminal organisation.
“Specialised teams immediately launched intensive search and surveillance operations, leading to the suspect’s capture within 48 hours of the warrant being issued,” it added. “Dubai Police confirmed that the arrest took place on April 15th, reflecting the force’s rapid response and operational readiness in handling international cases.”
Kinahan is the second figure at the apex of the cartel arrested in Dubai for extradition to Ireland. His close associate Sean McGovern was arrested in Dubai in 2024 and extradited to Ireland last year.
He has since been before the courts and has pleaded guilty to a range of offences. They included directing organised crime in relation to a Kinahan-Hutch feud murder in 2016 and surveillance on another man who was being targeted for execution.
Kinahan and McGovern were among seven key figures at the top of the Kinahan cartel, who were all based in Dubai at one time, sanctioned by the US treasury department in April 2022. American law enforcement also offered rewards of $5 million (€4.2 million) for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of Christy Kinahan or his sons, Daniel and Christopher.
The decision by US law enforcement to join the Garda and police forces in Britain, and then the European Union, in investigating the Kinahan cartel was a reflection of its scale in global organised crime. Securing US involvement, putting significant pressure on the authorities in UAE to co-operate, was instigated by former assistant commissioner John O’Driscoll.
Kinahan had become one of the biggest promoters in professional combat sport globally, mainly in boxing, by the time he was sanctioned. However, when American law enforcement banned any of its citizens or any US businesses from working with Kinahan or the other sanctioned men, his leading role in professional boxing came to an end.
Former Garda commissioner Drew Harris told the World Police Summit in Dubai three years ago that the Irish cartel had grown from a small gang in Dublin to an international organisation worth €1 billion.
It is unclear if the decision to charge and arrest Daniel Kinahan was aided by anyone who supplied information and who may be able to claim the $5 million reward. However, gardaí in Dublin, including members of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, have always believed they had evidence on Kinahan’s alleged links to serious organised crime in Dublin that would eventually result in him being charged.
A major diplomatic effort has been undertaken at law enforcement and government level between Ireland and the authorities in UAE, specifically Dubai, with a view to building close relations between the criminal justice systems of both jurisdictions. That has included Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, and his predecessor Harris, going to Dubai to meet their counterparts and hosting members of Dubai police in Dublin.
Former minister for justice Helen McEntee also travelled to Dubai as part of the diplomatic efforts that eventually resulted in a permanent extradition treaty being agreed between UAE and Ireland, activated last year.
Though Sean McGovern was the first Irish criminal to be extradited from Dubai to Ireland, that was under a special once-off arrangement. Kinahan would become the first Irish criminal to be extradited under the new permanent extradition agreement.
