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Daniel Kinahan

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For the Ulster Unionist politician, see Danny Kinahan.

Daniel Kinahan
Born (1977-06-25) 25 June 1977 (age 47)
Dublin, Ireland
OccupationBoxing promoter
RelativesChristy Kinahan (father)
Christopher Kinahan Junior (brother)
Reward amount
$15 million[1]
Wanted by
Wanted since12 April 2022

Daniel Joseph Kinahan (born 25 June 1977) is an Irish boxing promoter and suspected crime boss. He has been named by the High Court of Ireland as a senior figure in organised crime on a global scale.[2][3][4][5] The Criminal Assets Bureau has stated he "controlled and managed" the operations of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group (commonly called the Kinahan Cartel), a criminal organisation which smuggles drugs and firearms into Ireland, the UK, and mainland Europe, and "has associations that facilitate international criminal activity in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America".[6][7][8][9][10]

The Kinahan Cartel has had an ongoing feud with the Hutch Gang. The feud began in 2015, when Gary Hutch was murdered in Marbella, Spain by the Kinahan gang. As of August 2021, at least 18 people have been killed in the feud.[11][12][13][14]

In October 2022 the head of the Irish police Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stated in an affidavit to the Irish High Court that Kinahan had "sanctioned a number of murders" as part of the Hutch–Kinahan feud, during a CAB court case where properties were ordered seized by the judge as it was proven they were the proceeds of crime.[15]

In October 2024, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris urged Kinahan's associates to turn him in for the US offered reward of $15m and witness protection.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Kinahan was born in Dublin on 25 June 1977,[16] the eldest son of Jean Boylan (died 2014) and Christy Kinahan.[17] His father is a convicted drug dealer who was widely reported to be the founder and leader of the Kinahan Cartel.[18][19] Kinahan grew up in Tallaght and then returned to Dublin, where he lived in Oliver Bond flats in the Liberties area.[20] At the age of 23, he was one of five people arrested in connection with a "vicious attack" on two members of the Garda Síochána outside Shelbourne Park; he was charged with assault and refused bail by Dublin District Court. The charges were dropped the next year.[16]

Kinahan Cartel

[edit]
A chart of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group created by the Office of Foreign Assets Control

Overview

[edit]

In a 2009 diplomatic cable sent from a U.S. embassy in South America to The Pentagon, Kinahan was described as a "suspected international drug-trafficking figure".[16]

Kinahan was arrested in Spain in 2010 during a joint operation between Spanish, Irish, and British authorities, in which the British Serious Organised Crime Agency (the predecessor to the National Crime Agency) deployed more than 200 officers in the arrest phase of the multinational drug trafficking inquiry.[21]

Kinahan was the reported target of the 2016 Regency Hotel Shooting in Dublin, in which three people were shot, including 32-year-old Kinahan associate David Byrne, who was shot dead.[22][23] It was reported that the Garda Síochána believed Kinahan fled the attack by jumping out of a window.[22] He has also been the target of at least one more assassination attempt.[21]

In 2018, a Spanish police officer told a court in Marbella that Kinahan had ordered the murder of gang rival Gary Hutch on the Costa del Sol in 2015.[24]

Ban on entering the United States

[edit]

He is banned from entering the US, having been placed on a list of "narco terrorists", compiled by the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration. There are 27 other associates of the Kinahan Cartel who are also banned from entering the US.[25] His father, Christy Kinahan, and brother Christopher Jr, are also banned from entering the US.[21] Kinahan is reported to be a target for the UK's National Crime Agency.[21]

Drug Enforcement Agency documents

[edit]

DEA documents sent to the Dutch police exposed what would be a super drug cartel headed by Daniel Kinahan, Raffaele Imperiale (Camorra's drugs and arms dealer), Ridouan Taghi (Dutch criminal, now in jail) and Edin Gačanin (Bosnian drug trafficker).[26] The group was observed by the DEA having meetings in the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, the base of the alleged cartel. The meetings took place in 2017, however, it only reached the Dutch media in October 2019. The DEA regards this as one of the world's fifty largest drug cartels, with a virtual monopoly of Peruvian cocaine and it would control around a third of the cocaine trade in Europe. According to the DEA documents, the destination for all the drugs shipments would be Dutch ports.[27][28][29]

Criminal Assets Bureau case

[edit]

In March 2022, it was revealed that the Criminal Assets Bureau was pursuing a case against Kinahan, Jim Mansfield Jnr and fellow cartel member Thomas "Bomber" Kavanagh. The case had been pursued for over a year in secret, with Mansfield as the main target, with Kinahan and Kavanagh, among others as respondents.[30]

A three-hour podcast interview by James English was to be released on 17 March 2022, but English announced on 14 March that the podcast was cancelled due to legal issues.[31]

United States sanctions

[edit]

In April 2022 the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Daniel Kinahan, his father Christy Kinahan and brother Christy Kinahan Jr. as well as four other key associates of the Kinahan family. The OFAC notice refers to the family and its associates collectively as the "Kinahan Organized Crime Group" or "KOCG." The action adds the Crime Group to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, pursuant to the United States International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Executive Order 13581.[32]

The addition to SDN List blocks any property of the designated persons within the United States financial system, and prohibits United States persons from business dealings with them. Violations of the sanctions, including assisting in their evasion, come with a maximum criminal penalty of twenty years imprisonment.[33][34]

On 12 April 2022, the United States Department of State announced the offering of rewards of up to US$5 million under the Narcotics Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the Kinahan family members. The reward is offered jointly with the Garda Síochána, National Crime Agency, and Drug Enforcement Administration.[35]

On the morning of Monday 13 September 2022, a combined force of six enforcement agencies led by the Spanish Civil Guard's elite Central Operative Unit, arrested English-born former Cork restaurateur John Francis "Johnny" Morrissey at his villa in Marbella, Spain. Known to be a former enforcer and current money-launderer for the KOCG, he was the first of the seven named by the OFAC to be arrested, having fled Ireland more than 20 years before after reportedly being involved in a bid to harm a Criminal Assets Bureau officer in Ireland. Morrissey gained notoriety from being part of the team publicising his wife Nicola's Scottish-based Nero Drinks Company Ltd, which was thought to be part of Morrissey's €200 million EUR annual money-laundering operation, leading to her arrest as well at the same time.[36]

Bank accounts freeze

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On 21 April 2022, the United Arab Emirates froze his assets, including both personal and business bank accounts.[37]

Boxing promotion

[edit]

Overview

[edit]

In 2012, Kinahan founded MTK Global (originally named MGM) with Irish boxer Matthew Macklin in Marbella, Spain. Since its founding, MTK Global has signed a host of world-class fighters, such as Tyson Fury and Darren Till. In 2017, in the wake of the shooting of David Byrne of which Kinahan was considered the main target, MTK Global claimed to have cut its ties with Kinahan.[38] However, he has remained a prominent figure in the international boxing world, including as an advisor and matchmaker for Fury.[39]

Despite the apparent cutting of ties with MTK Global in February 2017, Kinahan remained an active figure in global boxing. On 10 June 2020, it was reported that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua had reached an agreement in principle for a two-fight deal, which pundits touted as the "biggest fight in British boxing history". Fury publicly thanked Kinahan for helping to broker the agreement. "Big shout-out Dan, he got this done, literally over the line, two-fight deal, Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua next year." he said.[40] In March 2022, Mauricio Sulaimán, President World Boxing Council (WBC) said of Kinahan: “I am nobody to judge any person, and that has been the policy of our organisation, to combat all types of discrimination and abuse of power, before any person and group. That is why Daniel will have our full support in his quest to bring benefits to boxing.”[41][42]

In June 2020, the Irish government expressed its "outrage" over the involvement of Kinahan in the brokering of the proposed boxing agreement, leading to Kinahan being named in the Irish parliament, Dáil Éireann, and being singled out by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the country's prime minister.[43] The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs contacted authorities in the United Arab Emirates regarding Kinahan.[44] BBC News reported that "politicians, police officers and the public in Ireland are keen that the outside world get to know what they call the real Daniel Kinahan."[45]

Also in June 2020, Kinahan, who served as a "special adviser" to KHK Sports was dropped from the role after just a month. KHK Sports, owned by Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a son of the king of Bahrain, enlisted the assistance of the head of international media relations for the Bahrain government, in communicating the statement of Kinahan's termination in the role to media outlets directly.[46][47]

Panorama documentary

[edit]

In February 2021 BBC Panorama broadcast a report on Kinahan's involvement in boxing.[48] Barry McGuigan spoke of intimidation in boxing.[48] Daniel Kinahan denied the allegations.[48]

Robert Smith, of the British Boxing Board of Control, said that there was nothing that the Board could do about Kinahan.[49] On the Panorama programme, lawyers acting for MTK Global confirmed that Kinahan was still advising fighters.[49] Smith said "It was disappointing for the sport, obviously, but the gentleman is not licensed by the British Boxing Board in any capacity. We don’t license MTK as a promoter. We license individuals so the named promoter is Lee Eaton and he is the only person we deal with."[49] (Lee Eaton is an employee of MTK Global.[49]) Smith said that a loophole in the regulations of the Board meant that they were powerless to regulate "advisers" such as Kinahan.[49]

On 5 February the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced that the Panorama team who produced the documentary had been threatened.[50][51][52] One journalist was forced to move out of his home in Northern Ireland and his family were moved to a secure location under PSNI protection due to a threat to his life.[53]

On 7 February 2021 Billy Joe Saunders, a boxer who employs Kinahan as adviser, sent journalist Nicola Tallant direct messages on Twitter challenging her "write something positive about Daniel Kinahan" in exchange for being granted a face-to-face interview with Kinahan.[54] Tallant, who writes for the Sunday World, rejected the offer.[54]

On 8 February 2021, Kinahan issued a statement to Talksport in the UK denying that he was part of any criminal organisation.[55][56] He also denied making threats to a journalist and confirmed that he was still involved in boxing.[55][56] He claimed the Panorama programme "was a rehash of unsubstantiated allegations that have been made previously on many occasions".[55][56] He criticised the Special Criminal Court (despite being named as very senior figure in organised crime on a global scale by the High Court[57] – not the SCC) and said he had no convictions.[55][56] Kinahan has never contested findings of fact made against him in Irish courts.[58]

Summons issued

[edit]

In December 2020 a racketeering summons was served to him in Dubai by US lawyers.[59][60] Boxing promoter Moses Herrida filed a civil cause of action over the signing of Joseph Diaz while he was under contract to Herrida Boxing Management.[59][60] He alleged that after Diaz won the world championship in 2020 MTK had offered him an advance of $100,000 (₡81,500) in breach of a five-year contract the boxer had signed with HBM.[59][60] Herrida also claims that Daniel Kinahan and MTK are in breach of the RICO Act, which can be used in civil cases.[59][60] Herrida alleges that Kinahan founded MTK Global as a "front business" to launder illicit proceeds from drug trafficking and that despite claims that Kinahan is no longer involved with the organisation he is still "influencing and controlling" it.[59][60] Kinahan has to file a response with the United States District Court for the Central District of California or face judgement being entered against him by default.[59][60]

Personal life

[edit]

As of 2019, Kinahan and his brother Christopher Jr. live in Dubai.[61] According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, he has a residence in the Palm Jumeirah.[62] He was married in May 2017 at the Burj Al Arab.[63] Guests included criminals from various backgrounds such as Ridouan Taghi (Moroccan-Dutch), Ricardo Riquelme Vega (Chilean), and Raffaele Imperiale (Italian).[63] Dutch police are investigating claims by a man known as Nabil B that they were working together after the wedding party helped investigators identify a "super cartel" alliance.[63] Messages recovered from Ennetcom servers have also supported claims that the criminals in question are doing business together.[63]

Kinahan is married to Caoimhe Robinson since 2017. Formerly the partner of murdered drug lord Micka Kelly,[64] Robinson is from the Coolock area of Dublin.[65]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Turn in Daniel Kinahan for $15m reward and US witness protection, Garda Commissioner urges cartel gangsters". Irish Independent. 10 October 2024.
  2. ^ Reynolds, Paul (18 May 2020). "Daniel Kinahan 'reinventing' himself as boxing promoter". RTÉ News. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Promoter Behind Fury-Joshua Deal Provokes Outrage in Ireland". The New York Times. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Government urged to pressure UAE to eject crime boss Daniel Kinahan". The Irish Times. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Irish Government to write to UK counterparts over Daniel Kinahan controversy". The Telegraph. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Boxing promotions company MTK enters partnership with Daniel Kinahan". RTÉ News. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Outrage in Ireland over Tyson Fury thanking Daniel Kinahan". ESPN. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  8. ^ McQuinn, Cormac (12 June 2020). "Daniel Kinahan: Outrage over Dublin gang boss role in world boxing showpiece". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Government to write to UK counterparts over Daniel Kinahan controversy". Press Association. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Daniel Kinahan 'reinventing' himself as boxing promoter". RTÉ News. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  11. ^ Foy, Ken (11 September 2017). "Garda crackdown on crime has cost Kinahan gang millions as big hitters face criminal charges". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  12. ^ MacNamee, Garreth (17 May 2020). "The curious case of Daniel Kinahan: Cocaine scion or boxing power broker?". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  13. ^ Güell, Oriol (7 November 2016). "Why is Irish drug trafficker Christy Kinahan still at liberty on the Costa del Sol?". EL PAÍS. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  14. ^ Reynolds, Paul (31 August 2020). "Two Kinahan gang members jailed over plot to kill Patrick Hutch". RTÉ News. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  15. ^ Schiller, Robin (13 October 2022). "Daniel Kinahan: High Court grants order for CAB to seize Dublin mansion from cartel boss". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Brady, Tom (12 June 2020). "Who is Daniel Kinahan? From €1bn crime empire and murderous feuds, to his planned life as boxing promoter". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  17. ^ Feehan, Conor; Foy, Ken (7 May 2014). "No sign of crime boss Dapper Don at funeral of estranged wife Jean". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  18. ^ Lally, Conor (17 February 2016). "The six unsolved gun murders linked to the Kinahan cartel". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  19. ^ Lally, Conor (12 November 2022). "Christy Kinahan: A timeline of the international drug trafficker and gang leader's life". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  20. ^ Tallant, Nicola (19 February 2021). "Daniel Kinahan's no proud son of Dublin, he's our shame and latest statement shows ever greater distance from reality". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  21. ^ a b c d O'Neill, Sean (13 June 2020). "Daniel Kinahan: Tyson Fury's adviser is on radar of UK drug unit". The Times. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  22. ^ a b O'Keeffe, Cormac (8 February 2016). "Gardaí believe main target jumped out a window to escape Regency hotel attack". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  23. ^ Lally, Conor (8 February 2016). "Regency Hotel shooting: Cutbacks saw gardaí miss a big target". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  24. ^ Gallagher, Conor (11 June 2020). "Daniel Kinahan's role in major boxing match draws ire". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  25. ^ "'Criminal parasite' Daniel Kinahan at centre of £200m fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua". The Sunday Times. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  26. ^ Dillon, Eamon (2 January 2022). "Daniel Kinahan's super cartel imported whopping €23 billion worth of cocaine into Europe". Sunday World. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  27. ^ "Taghi part of "super cartel" controlling third of EU cocaine trafficking: report". NL Times. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Bundelen cokekartels de krachten in Dubai?" (in Dutch).
  29. ^ "Werkt Ridouan Taghi samen met deze drugshandelaren?" (in Dutch).
  30. ^ Lally, Conor (9 March 2022). "Daniel Kinahan pursued by Criminal Assets Bureau for first time". Irish Times. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  31. ^ Cumiskey, Neasa (14 March 2022). "Daniel Kinahan's exclusive podcast interview pulled due to 'legal issues'". Sunday World. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  32. ^ Reynolds, Paul (12 April 2022). "US imposes sanctions on senior members of Kinahan gang". RTÉ News. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  33. ^ International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701–1708)
  34. ^ "Transnational Criminal Organizations Regulations" 31 C.F.R. §590
  35. ^ "Department of State Offers Reward for Information to Bring Three Irish Transnational Criminals to Justice". United States Department of State. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  36. ^ Gerard Couzens (15 September 2022). "Kinahan cartel dealt devastating blow as 'key' man Johnny Morrissey arrested in Costa del Sol". Sunday World. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  37. ^ "Daniel Kinahan hit with fresh blow as UAE freezes his bank accounts". Irish Independent. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  38. ^ "MTK distance themselves from Daniel Kinahan as they announce Ireland 'boycott'". Irish Independent.
  39. ^ Rumsby, Ben; Davies, Gareth A. (10 June 2020). "Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Fighters have reached agreement over two-fight deal, says Eddie Hearn". The Telegraph.
  40. ^ Rumsby, Ben; Davies, Gareth A. (10 June 2020). "Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Fighters have reached agreement over two-fight deal, says Eddie Hearn". The Telegraph.
  41. ^ "Daniel Kinahan: World Boxing Council chief promises mobster 'full support'". sundayworld. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  42. ^ Lawton, Matt. "Boxing chief backs Irish 'crime boss' Daniel Kinahan". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  43. ^ Government express ‘outrage’ to UK sports minister over Kinahan boxing involvement Irish Times, 2020-06-11
  44. ^ Carroll, Rory (11 June 2020). "Irish government contacts UAE over crime boss role in Fury-Joshua bout". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  45. ^ Harrison, Shane (11 June 2020). "Daniel Kinahan: Questions over Fury-Joshua fight promoter's 'drug gang links'". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  46. ^ Rumsby, Ben (16 June 2020). "Sports firm KHK drops Joshua-Fury broker Daniel Kinahan after controversy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  47. ^ Gallagher, Conor (16 June 2020). "Daniel Kinahan is dropped as adviser by sports company". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  48. ^ a b c McRae, Donald (1 February 2021). "Suspected crime boss Kinahan 'still working in boxing', Panorama reports". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  49. ^ a b c d e McRae, Donald (2 February 2021). "Boxing board powerless over Daniel Kinahan's advising role in sport". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  50. ^ "BBC Panorama team threatened after programme about Daniel Kinahan's influence in boxing". RTÉ News. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  51. ^ Lally, Conor (5 February 2021). "BBC Panorama team face threats after Kinahan investigation". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  52. ^ MacNamee, Garreth (5 February 2021). "BBC documentary team threatened following Kinahan documentary". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  53. ^ Schiller, Robin (5 February 2021). "Member of BBC team behind Daniel Kinahan exposé warned of threat to life". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  54. ^ a b Glendenning, Barry (11 February 2021). "Reporter rebuffs Billy Joe Saunders' offer to fix Daniel Kinahan interview". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  55. ^ a b c d MacNamee, Garreth (8 February 2021). "'I am not a part of a criminal gang' Daniel Kinahan insists, as pressure mounts in wake of BBC documentary". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  56. ^ a b c d Lally, Conor (8 February 2021). "Daniel Kinahan denies making threats to a journalist". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  57. ^ "Government urged to pressure UAE to eject crime boss Daniel Kinahan". The Irish Times. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  58. ^ Reynolds, Paul (8 February 2021). "Daniel Kinahan denies involvement in criminality". RTÉ News. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  59. ^ a b c d e f Carswell, Simon (30 December 2020). "Kinahan served with summons in US case taken by boxing manager". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  60. ^ a b c d e f Schiller, Robin; Foy, Ken. "US boxing chief sues Daniel Kinahan under crime laws". Irish Independent.
  61. ^ "How the Kinahan crime gang were jailed". RTÉ News. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  62. ^ "Transnational Criminal Organizations Designations; Libya Designations Updates". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  63. ^ a b c d Tallant, Nicola (13 June 2021). "Daniel Kinahan's Dubai wedding party helped investigators identify 'super cartel' alliance". Sunday World. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  64. ^ "The quiet man: Inside David Waldron's 25-year run in the Dublin underworld". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  65. ^ Mooney, John (13 November 2022). "Molls in love with the life of a Kinahan crime lord". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
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