Daniel Kinahan ARRESTED in Dubai and faces extradition back to Ireland

Daniel Kinahan has been arrested in Dubai and faces extradition back to Ireland over ‘serious organised crime offences’.

The crime boss turned boxing promoter, who has been hunted by the authorities for years, was arrested on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts in relation to alleged serious organised crime offences. 

The 48-year-old and his father, Christy Kinahan senior, have been living in Dubai since 2016, when they moved from Costa Del Sol in Spain to the Middle East following the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel that sparked a brutal and bloody gang war. 

Dubai Police said they had arrested an ‘Irish fugitive for his alleged role in an international organised crime network’. 

Kinahan has been named by the High Court of Ireland as ‘a senior figure in organised crime on a global scale’, while the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) identified him as the controller of the Kinahan cartel, which allegedly smuggles guns and drugs into Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. 

The Kinahan cartel was involved in a feud with the rival Hutch crime gang in Ireland, which began in 2015, when Gary Hutch was murdered in Marbella, Spain by the Kinahan group.

The ensuing gang war claimed 18 lives over the next three years and brought daylight shootings to the streets of Dublin. In 2016, an attempt was made on Daniel Kinahan’s life at a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel in Dublin.

In October 2024, then Garda Commissioner Drew Harris urged Kinahan’s associates to turn him in, as US authorities offered a reward of $15m and witness protection.

Mr Harris said of the organised crime group: ‘They’re Irish nationals. The Kinahan organised crime group have created misery around the world. 

‘They’ve been involved in very serious criminality, and they are a murderous gang of drug dealers. So they are one of our main objectives in terms of law enforcement.’

Irish police have said it is aware of the arrest of an Irish national in the United Arab Emirates.

‘The male, in his late 40s, was arrested on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts in relation to alleged serious organised crime offences,’ the Garda said in a statement on Friday.

They added that the arrest ‘remains a matter for the authorities in the United Arab Emirates at this time’. 

Dubai Police said the arrest took place on April 15. They said Kinahan, who has been based in the UAE for over a decade, was arrested within 48 hours of the warrant being issued by the Irish government. 

The Garda said the ‘arrest is another extremely important demonstration of the need for international law enforcement co-operation in tackling transnational organised crime’. 

In a statement, Dubai Police said: ‘Dubai Police, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Interior, have arrested an Irish fugitive for his alleged role in an international organised crime network. 

‘The arrest comes as part of efforts to combat cross-border crime.

‘The arrest followed the receipt of a judicial file from Irish authorities detailing the suspect’s alleged crimes and his involvement in an international criminal organisation. 

‘Based on the file, Dubai Public Prosecution issued an arrest warrant to initiate legal procedures ahead of his extradition.

‘Specialised teams immediately launched intensive search and surveillance operations, leading to the suspect’s capture within 48 hours of the warrant being issued. 

‘Dubai Police confirmed that the arrest took place on April 15, reflecting the force’s rapid response and operational readiness in handling international cases.’

The arrest is in accordance with the bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates.

A Garda statement said: ‘An Garda Siochana has been steadfast in our determination that we would pursue those allegedly involved in serious organised 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 organised crime.

‘An Garda Siochana has developed many major international partnerships in our efforts to target transnational organised crime groups.

‘Our relationship with the authorities in the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Justice at judicial level, and on a police-to-police basis, is valued.

‘This relationship has been supported by the Irish Government Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and Department of Foreign Affairs.’

Kinahan’s involvement in boxing caused controversy in 2020 when heavyweight Tyson Fury thanked him for reaching an agreement for him to take on Anthony Joshua.

Fury said he was responsible for organising ‘the biggest fight in British boxing history’.

But within weeks, Fury’s team announced that Kinahan would no longer negotiate for him.

Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said he welcomed the arrest, which ‘follows my request to the UAE for extradition of this individual to face charges in Ireland’.

He continued: ‘In recent years, the UAE and Ireland have worked closely together to advance criminal investigations into serious and organised crime, including the agreement of bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance in 2025.

‘I have spoken today with my UAE counterpart Minister of Justice, His Excellency Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, to express my thanks and to acknowledge the strong judicial co-operation in criminal matters between Ireland and the UAE.’

Minister O’Callaghan said: ‘I would like to commend all involved in today’s development, which is the result of tireless work by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, officials in the Department of Justice with their UAE counterparts, the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies.’

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.