United Arab Emirates to extradite Kinahan cartel member to Ireland

(Patria) - An extradition process is underway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to return one of the alleged top members of the Kinahan organized crime group to the Republic of Ireland, the global police agency Interpol announced, BBC reported last night.

Sean McGovern was arrested by Dubai police on Thursday following the issuance of an Interpol red notice in cooperation between Irish and UAE authorities. The 38-year-old is wanted on charges including murder and managing an organized crime group.

Interpol described McGovern as "one of Ireland's most wanted fugitives." Garda Commissioner (Irish Police) Drew Harris described Thursday's arrest as an "important intervention".

"This has been a very long process and investigation involving international partners for An Garda Síochána," he told reporters in Cork.

The statement also "welcomes" the arrest of an Irish citizen in the UAE.

"An Garda Síochána has developed strong international partnerships in our efforts to target transnational organized crime groups," it states. "Our relationship with the authorities in the United Arab Emirates is valued and we will continue to develop it."

First extradition from UAE to Ireland

The leaders of the Kinahan crime group, which originated in Dublin, are believed to be based in the UAE. McGovern's extradition is the first extradition between the UAE and the Republic of Ireland.

Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee warned that there is "nowhere to hide" for those involved in organized crime.

"Many organized crime groups think they can evade justice by crossing borders – they cannot," she said. "There can be no hiding place for criminals anywhere in the world."

McEntee said she is "intensively engaged" with her UAE counterpart on deepening the criminal justice relationship between the two countries. She added that "good progress" has been made in negotiations between Ireland and the UAE on bilateral agreements and mutual legal assistance.

Last October, Commissioner Harris met with senior police officials from the UAE in Dublin as part of an international investigation into the Kinahan gang. The delegation's visit followed a day after Justice Minister Helen McEntee discussed the possibility of a bilateral extradition agreement with her UAE counterpart.

The previous month, Commissioner Harris met with authorities in Dubai to discuss ways to combat transnational crime.

Who are the Kinahans?

The Kinahans are Ireland's richest, most powerful, and ruthless criminal gang. It was founded by Christy Kinahan Sr, but its daily operations are now believed to be controlled by his sons Daniel, in particular, and Christopher Jr. For more than twenty years, this group has been responsible for importing tons of drugs and firearms worldwide, according to the National Crime Agency.

The United States Department of the Treasury has previously described the Kinahan cartel as one of the most dangerous in the world, comparable to criminal organizations like Italy's Camorra, Mexico's Los Zetas, and Japan's Yakuza.

According to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, the gang is estimated to have earned over one billion euros globally from its activities. In April 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a reward of five million dollars
for the capture of the aforementioned Kinahan trio.

On Sunday, alleged Kinahan gang member Liam Byrne (42) from Dublin was apprehended in Spain on suspicion of a firearms offense, following an arrest warrant issued by the United Kingdom.