Daniel Joseph Kinahan, one of the world’s most wanted men, has been arrested in Dubai, ending a years-long hunt for the alleged boss of the notorious Kinahan Organized Crime Group. The Irish fugitive, suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering, was captured in a secret joint operation between Irish and UAE police.
Global Manhunt Ends
According to the US Department of State, Kinahan was wanted by US authorities and was believed to have run the day-to-day operations of the organization. The US Treasury had announced sanctions on several members and associates of the Kinahan cartel, including Daniel Kinahan, in 2022.
The Kinahan Organized Crime Group has been linked to multiple slayings, as well as money laundering and the trafficking of drugs and firearms throughout Europe. Kinahan’s arrest is a significant blow to the organization, which was considered one of the most powerful cartels in Ireland.
Investigations and Sanctions
The US Treasury’s sanctions on the Kinahan cartel included Daniel Kinahan, his father Christopher Vincent Kinahan Sr., and his brother Christopher Vincent Kinahan Jr. The State Department had offered rewards of up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrests of the three Kinahan family members.
Investigations by the Wikipedia community and journalists from Bellingcat and the Sunday Times had previously established the whereabouts and travels of the Kinahan patriarch based on years’ worth of Google reviews he had left for hotels and restaurants throughout the world.
Some of the key facts about the Kinahan Organized Crime Group include:
- Linked to multiple slayings and money laundering
- Trafficking of drugs and firearms throughout Europe
- Considered one of the most powerful cartels in Ireland
- Sanctions announced by the US Treasury in 2022
Daniel Kinahan’s arrest marks the end of a global manhunt and is a significant victory for law enforcement agencies around the world.
