Daniel Kinahan arrest in the United Arab Emirates marks another push for cross-border action against transnational organised crime, according to Misryoum. Irish courts issued the warrant and extradition steps have now moved forward.
The arrest of Daniel Kinahan in the United Arab Emirates has quickly become a focus of attention in Ireland and beyond, not least because of what it signals about cooperation between police and courts across borders.
Daniel Kinahan has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates, Gardaí say.. He is in his 40s and was taken into custody on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts in relation to alleged serious organised crime offences.. Gardaí noted they are aware of “the arrest of an Irish National in the United Arab Emirates”. adding that the arrest “remains a matter for the authorities in the United Arab Emirates at this time”.
Gardaí also framed the development as part of a broader strategy.. They said the arrest is “another extremely important demonstration of the need for international law enforcement co-operation in tackling transnational organised crime”.. They added that the arrest was in “accordance with the bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates”.
Arrest follows Irish warrant and UAE cooperation
According to Dubai Police, the arrest took place on 15 April.. Misryoum newsroom reporting describes Kinahan as one of the three leaders of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group who moved to the United Arab Emirates from the Costa del Sol in Spain following the murder of his friend and fellow gang member David Byrne.. The story behind Byrne’s death still hangs over the wider feud: Byrne was shot dead by the rival Hutch Organised Crime Group at the Regency Hotel in February 2016.
Gardaí say Kinahan was the primary target and only got away because he took a left turn and the gunmen turned right.. It’s the kind of detail that makes the violence feel close—one moment, a decision, a narrow escape.. From there. the murder escalated the ongoing Hutch Kinahan feud. which has so far cost 18 lives and has led Gardaí to focus on leaders of both organised crime groups.
In recent years. the Government and the gardaí built relationships with international law enforcement agencies in Europe. the Middle East and the United States.. The US treasury sanctioned the leaders of the Kinahan gang. including Daniel Kinahan. and offered a $5m reward for information leading to his arrest.
Two days since intensive investigation
That arrest came two days ago in Dubai following an intensive garda investigation and the submission of a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.. The DPP directed that Mr Kinahan be charged with organised crime offences.. Misryoum editorial desk noted the chain of paperwork mattered here: Gardaí secured a warrant for his arrest in the High Court here which was then transmitted to the authorities in the UAE.
As part of a bilateral agreement, the 47-year-old was arrested.. Senior Kinahan gang members Thomas Bomber Kavanagh and Liam Byrne have already been convicted and jailed in the UK.. And while Kinahan himself is now in UAE custody. the earlier steps of the process have already started to ripple outward—his right-hand man Sean McGovern was the first to be extradited from the UAE and is awaiting sentence at the SCC for organised crime offences. currently in custody in the United Arab Emirates pending his extradition back to Ireland to face trial here.
It’s a timeline that shows how slowly these cases move, and how carefully they’re stitched together. Somewhere between an arrest warrant and an extradition hearing, there’s often a gap where nothing seems to happen—then suddenly everything does.
Justice minister welcomes development
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the arrest of an Irish national in the United Arab Emirates today. In a statement cited by Misryoum, he said: “Today’s arrest follows my request to the UAE for extradition of this individual to face charges in Ireland.”
He said that 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.. He added he spoke today with his UAE counterpart Minister of Justice. His Excellency Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi. to express thanks and acknowledge strong judicial co-operation in criminal matters between Ireland and the UAE.
O’Callaghan also commended all involved in the development. describing it as the result of tireless work by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. officials in the Department of Justice with their UAE counterparts. the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies.
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