Lead Irish criminal Daniel Kinahan arrested in Dubai over alleged organized crime links

Dubai police have arrested alleged Irish crime gang boss Daniel Kinahan in relation to organized criminal activity, Irish media reported on ‌Friday.

The latest arrest comes as Irish authorities issue warrant related to alleged organized crime offences.

UAE police officials said in a statement they had "arrested an Irish fugitive for his alleged role in an organised criminal group involved in international crimes in his home country," but did not name Kinahan.

The Irish Times reported the charges against Kinahan were related to a gangland feud in Ireland.

Kinahan was named as one of three leaders of ‌the Kinahan Organized Crime Group by the United States in 2022 when it offered a $5 million reward for their arrest.

The U.S. Treasury likened the Kinahan drug trafficking gang to some of the world's most notorious crime networks and said the gang frequently uses Dubai as a hub for illicit activities.

A lawyer for Daniel Kinahan told the BBC in 2021 that he has no criminal record or convictions and allegations about being a crime boss are false.

Irish police said on wednesday they were aware of the arrest of a man in his late 40s, on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts in relation to alleged serious organised crime offences.

The gardai said the arrest was in accordance with the bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and the UAE.

It claimed that the arrest was an “important demonstration of the need for international law enforcement cooperation in tackling transnational organised crime”.

The Dubliner, who lives in the UAE, had previously insisted he had no criminal convictions and denies any involvement in organised crime.

Kinahan is the founder of the MTK Global boxing management company that previously listed Billy Joe Saunders and Tyson Fury among its stable of fighters.

The Irish minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “The arrest follows my request to the UAE for extradition of this individual to face charges in Ireland."

“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.”