Daniel Kinahan, who is reportedly the head of the Kinahan organized crime syndicate, has been apprehended in the United Arab Emirates.
Authorities in Ireland confirmed they were aware of the detainment of a man in his late 40s, which was executed based on an arrest warrant issued by Irish courts in connection with serious allegations of organized crime.
The Gardaí indicated that the arrest was conducted under the extradition treaty existing between Ireland and the UAE.
According to Dubai police, the arrest occurred on Wednesday.
Kinahan, a Dublin native residing in the UAE, has consistently claimed that he has no criminal record and denies any links to organized crime.
A statement from the Gardaí emphasized that the arrest illustrates the importance of international collaboration among law enforcement agencies to combat transnational organized crime.
The statement further noted, “The capture of the Irish national in Dubai is currently under the jurisdiction of the UAE authorities.”
“An Garda Síochána remains committed to pursuing individuals allegedly involved in serious organized criminal activities, regardless of their location. Today’s arrest significantly underscores the necessity for global law enforcement collaboration in addressing transnational crime.”
Dubai authorities described the individual as an “Irish fugitive” connected to an international organized crime network.
A spokesperson remarked, “This arrest is part of ongoing efforts to tackle cross-border criminal activities. The operation was initiated after receiving a judicial file from Irish authorities outlining the suspect’s alleged criminal activities and his ties to an international criminal organization.”
Based on this file, Dubai’s public prosecution issued an arrest warrant to commence legal procedures for his extradition. Specialized teams carried out extensive search and surveillance operations, successfully capturing the suspect within 48 hours of the warrant’s issuance.
Kinahan is known as the founder of MTK Global, a boxing management company that previously represented notable fighters like Billy Joe Saunders and Tyson Fury.
In 2016, there was an assassination attempt on Kinahan during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel in Dublin.
His involvement in boxing drew criticism in 2020 when Fury expressed gratitude to Kinahan for facilitating a fight agreement with Anthony Joshua; however, shortly thereafter, Fury’s team announced that Kinahan would no longer act as his negotiator.
Irish Minister Jim O’Callaghan commented, “This arrest follows my request for the extradition of this individual to face charges in Ireland. In recent years, the UAE and Ireland have collaborated closely to enhance investigations into serious organized crime, including the establishment of bilateral treaties for extradition and mutual legal assistance by 2025.”
