Arrest of Alleged Crime Leader in Dubai

Daniel Kinahan, aged 48, was arrested in Dubai on Wednesday as part of a covert operation involving Irish and United Arab Emirates authorities. He is alleged to be a leader of the Kinahan cartel, which Irish media describes as one of Ireland's biggest criminal gangs.

Dubai police stated they had "arrested an Irish fugitive for his alleged role in an organised criminal group involved in international crimes in his home country."

Ireland's national police force, An Garda Síochána, confirmed an Irish man in his 40s was arrested under a warrant from Irish courts.

Background on the Case

Kinahan is expected to face charges in Ireland related to a long-running feud between the Kinahan cartel and the Hutch gang. Irish media report this feud has resulted in 18 deaths since 2015.

He left Ireland for Spain, and later the UAE, following a 2016 incident at a Dublin hotel where an associate of the Kinahan cartel was killed. Reports indicated Kinahan was the believed target of an assassination attempt during that incident.

The Kinahan cartel is considered by some reports to be a significant organization in the European drug trade. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to the arrest of the cartel's leaders or the organization's "financial destruction."

Kinahan was also the founder of the boxing management company MTK Global.

Official Statement

An Garda Síochána released the following statement regarding the arrest:

"An Garda Síochána has been steadfast in our determination that we would pursue those allegedly involved in serious Organized Criminal activity, wherever they go. Today’s arrest is another extremely important demonstration of the need for international law enforcement co-operation in tackling transnational organized crime."