UAE extradites alleged international crime boss Daniel Kinahan to Ireland

The United Arab Emirates has extradited alleged Irish cartel boss Daniel Kinahan, with the 49-year-old expected to appear in court in Dublin charged in connection with running a transnational criminal organisation.

Kinahan left Dubai aboard an Irish government jet on Sunday and is expected to appear before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin later in the day.

His extradition followed a final ruling by the Dubai Court of Cassation and was carried out under an extradition treaty between the UAE and Ireland, according to a joint statement by the justice ministers of both countries.

Kinahan was arrested in Dubai in April on an Irish warrant for alleged serious organised crime offences. He had lived openly in the emirate for about a decade.

In 2022, the United States named Kinahan as one of three leaders of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group KOCG, which US and European authorities have linked to drug trafficking, money laundering, firearms trafficking and murder. The group is alleged to have risen from the streets of Dublin to become one of the world’s largest international crime organisations, with links to South American cartels, Chinese mafia groups and Hezbollah, among others.

US authorities imposed sanctions on Kinahan as well as other family members and offered a $5m reward for information leading to their arrests.

“Kinahan is considered one of the most wanted individuals in cases related to transnational organised crime,” Sunday’s joint Emirati-Irish statement said.

“He has been accused of leading an organised criminal group, murder and illicit trafficking of narcotics, pursuant to an official request submitted by the Irish authorities,” it added.

Ireland’s Justice Minister, Jim O’Callaghan, and his UAE counterpart, Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, said the extradition sent “a clear message” that those suspected of serious and organised crime would find “no safe haven from justice”.

Kinahan to face organised crime charge in Dublin

Irish media reported that a major security operation was under way ahead of Kinahan’s arrival, involving armed police, the military and prison authorities.

Kinahan is expected to be taken directly to the Special Criminal Court before being transferred to the high-security Portlaoise Prison, according to Irish broadcaster RTE.

An Irish government jet flew from Casement Aerodrome outside Dublin to Dubai on Saturday and departed the UAE on Sunday morning with Kinahan on board.

He is the second senior leader linked to the cartel to be extradited from Dubai.

Sean McGovern, described by an Irish judge as a senior lieutenant in the organisation, was extradited from the UAE following his arrest in 2024. He was sentenced in June to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to directing organised crime and attempted murder.

The Kinahan group has been involved in a long-running and violent feud with the rival Dublin-based Hutch gang. Irish police estimate the organisation’s wealth at more than one billion euros ($1.15bn).

Kinahan has previously denied allegations that he is a crime boss. A lawyer representing him told the BBC in 2021 that he had no criminal record or convictions and that allegations against him were false.