Irish national, Daniel Kinahan, widely regarded by authorities as a suspected organised crime figure, has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates in connection with serious criminal allegations linked to transnational organised crime.
The arrest of Kinahan, believed to be in his 40s, took place in Dubai under a warrant issued by Irish courts, according to reports from RTÉ.
His detention was confirmed as part of an ongoing international law enforcement operation targeting high-level criminal networks.
In April 2022, the United States government imposed sanctions on Kinahan and members of his family, identifying them as key figures in the Kinahan organised crime cartel. The designation significantly escalated international scrutiny of his alleged criminal activities.
Beyond the allegations, Kinahan was also previously associated with the boxing world through MTK Global, a management company that once represented more than 100 fighters, including prominent names such as Tyson Fury and Carl Frampton. The firm has since ceased operations.
Ireland’s national police service, An Garda Síochána, confirmed awareness of the arrest of an Irish citizen in the UAE. Authorities in Dubai stated that the operation was conducted on Wednesday, 15 April, following extensive surveillance and coordinated investigative work.
Emirati police described the detainee as an Irish fugitive suspected of involvement in an international organised crime syndicate. They said the arrest forms part of broader global efforts to dismantle cross-border criminal operations.
Officials further explained that the action followed the submission of a detailed judicial file by Irish authorities outlining Kinahan’s alleged offences and his suspected leadership role in a global criminal organisation. Based on this information, Dubai Public Prosecution issued an arrest warrant, which led to his detention within 48 hours.
Irish police noted that the arrest aligns with an extradition agreement between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, while stressing that the legal process now remains under UAE jurisdiction.
An Garda Síochána stated, “Today’s arrest is another extremely important demonstration of the need for international law enforcement co-operation in tackling transnational organised crime.”
Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, also welcomed the development, linking it to an extradition request submitted by Ireland.
He said, “Today’s arrest follows my request to the UAE for extradition of this individual to face charges in Ireland.
“I would like to commend all involved in today’s development, which is the result of tireless work.”
Kinahan was previously named in Ireland’s High Court as the alleged head of a major drug trafficking organisation. He was also the target of a failed assassination attempt during the Regency Hotel shooting on 5 February 2016.
During that incident, his associate David Byrne was killed, while two others were injured, marking a major escalation in the long-running Hutch–Kinahan feud, which has since resulted in at least 18 deaths.
Following the attack, Kinahan is believed to have left Spain’s Costa del Sol, where he had previously resided for many years, and later relocated to Dubai, where he has remained until his recent arrest.
