The United Arab Emirates has extradited Daniel Kinahan, leader of a transnational crime gang, back to Ireland for prosecution. He was arrested in April after living openly for over a decade.
On Sunday, 9 Aug 2026 GMT+7, the UAE extradited 49-year-old Daniel Kinahan, accused leader of a major transnational crime gang, to Ireland to face the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on charges of founding and managing a transnational crime organization.
This extradition followed a Dubai Supreme Court ruling under the extradition treaty between the UAE and Ireland. Kinahan was arrested in Dubai in April under an Irish warrant for serious organized crimes, murder, and drug trafficking after living openly in Dubai for more than ten years.
The US and Europe identify Kinahan as one of three leaders of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group (KOCG), estimating their assets exceed 1 billion euros.
The network grew from a street gang in Dublin into one of the largest transnational criminal organizations worldwide, linked to drug trafficking, money laundering, arms trade, violent power struggles with rival gangs (notably the Hutch gang), and connections to South American drug cartels, Chinese mafia, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Previously, in 2022, the US sanctioned Kinahan and his family and offered a $5 million reward for his capture.
The justice ministers of both the UAE and Ireland jointly stated that this extradition sends a clear message that "there is no safe haven for those evading justice."
Irish authorities have deployed maximum security measures, including armed police, military personnel, and prison officials, as Kinahan is expected to be transferred to Portlaoise Prison, a high-security facility.
Kinahan is the second senior leader of the KOCG extradited from Dubai, following Sean McGovern, who was extradited in 2024 and sentenced to 24 years in prison in June.
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Source:aljazeera