Arrest of Daniel Kinahan follows lengthy investigation spanning continents

The arrest of Daniel Kinahan is the latest stage in a lengthy law enforcement operation which has spanned continents.

The alleged crime boss has previously been named in the High Court in Dublin as a head of an international drug cartel.

Born in 1977 in Dublin, he is the eldest son of Christy Kinahan, alleged to be the founder of his family’s criminal operation.

In 2015, the Kinahan cartel became involved in a feud with the rival Hutch crime gang in Ireland, which was to claim the lives of 18 people.

David Byrne, an associate of the Kinahan cartel, was shot dead by members of the Hutch gang at a boxing weigh-in in 2016.

Gardai have always believed the intended target was Daniel Kinahan.

After that, Kinahan left Ireland, first to go to the Costa Del Sol and later settling in Dubai.

He was identified in the High Court in Dublin as a senior figure who “controlled and managed” the operations of the Kinahan organised crime group.

The international crime syndicate was alleged to have been involved in the smuggling of drugs and guns into Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Kinahan drew further scrutiny when it was revealed he played a role in organising an aborted heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Kinahan claimed to have stepped away from boxing after the controversy that followed.

In 2022, US authorities issued a reward of up to five million dollars for his arrest.

The US treasury department imposed sanctions against senior members of the Kinahan crime gang, including Christy Kinahan Snr and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jnr.

While Kinahan left Ireland years ago, the investigation by gardai continued.

They recently secured a warrant for his arrest in the High Court in Dublin.

This was sent to the Dubai police as part of a bilateral agreement.

Officers there launched “intensive search and surveillance operations”, which led to Kinahan’s arrest this week.

A spokesperson said: “Dubai Public Prosecution issued an arrest warrant to initiate legal procedures ahead of his extradition.”