Latest news with #DanielKinahan
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gardai expect major decision on charging Kinahan to come soon
Gardai are hopeful of bringing charges against the Kinahan cartel leaders - almost two years on from asking the DPP to do so. In particular, officers believe they will soon be able to level a charge against mob boss Daniel Kinahan, who is still living in the United Arab Emirates - where Ireland now has a formal extradition process - as a final decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is expected. Gardai are understood to want to charge Kinahan over the murder of Eddie Hutch, a brother of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch - but they also want to hit him, his brother Christy Jr, and his father Christy Sr with charges relating to running a E1 billion international criminal organisation. A massive file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in August 2023, recommending charges for all three leaders of the Kinahan cartel - and sources say the clock is now ticking on that decision. Officers are understood to be optimistic that they will finally soon be able to charge, and ultimately extradite the Kinahans back to this country to face justice. However An Garda Siochana are not officially saying anything about the matter. When asked by this paper if they have received a decision from the DPP, gardai said: 'An Garda Síochána does not comment on correspondence with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.' Garda Commissioner Drew Harris did however comment on the matter two years ago - saying a 'very comprehensive and wide-ranging investigation into numerous serious offences committed here in Ireland and that file has been submitted to the DPP.' And we would hope to see leadership figures within the Kinahan organised crime group brought to justice here in Ireland,' he said at the time. The decision has still not been announced as Mr Harris sees out his final days at the head of the force - before Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly takes the top job next month. Sources previously told this paper that officers also wanted to charge Daniel Kinahan over a foiled plot six years ago to murder Hutch ally James 'Mago' Gately. Gardai from the Drugs and organised Crime Bureau became aware that Estonian hitman Imre Arakas (64) was sent by the cartel to Dublin in April 2017 as part of a plot to murder Gately in Belfast. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Armed detectives stormed the house in west Dublin where Arakas was holed up and arrested him before he could head north to carry out the murder bid. A DOCB detective seized an encrypted phone from Arakas that had a message on its display saying 'Kill Mago Gately.' The phone's security system kicked in seconds after the detective grabbed the handset from Arakas and the message auto-deleted – but not before the officer took a photo of the screen with his own device. Sources say officers later established that the phone that sent the murder message was a handset controlled by Kinahan – and that is a key piece of the evidence against the mob boss. Christy Kinahan "Dapper Don" Gardai are hopeful that the new extradition agreement with the UAE will help to ensure that the Kinahans are brought back here to face justice. It comes as cartel mobster Sean McGovern was successfully flown back here in May and is now facing a Special Criminal Court trial for the alleged murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan. The bloody Kinahan Hutch feud saw 18 men shot dead and began when Daniel Kinahan ordered the murder of Gary Hutch in Spain in 2015 - and when the cartel attempted to murder Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch in Lanzarote that Christmas. It significantly escalated when the Hutch gang struck back in February 2016 - shooting dead Kinahan associate David Byrne in Dublin's Regency Hotel - in a hit that was primarily targeting Daniel Kinahan. The feud ultimately claimed the lives of The Monk's brother Eddie, their nephews Gareth and Derek Coakley Hutch - and saw multiple attempts by the cartel to kill his nephews Jonathan Patrick and his brother Patsy. Gerry Hutch Gerry Hutch himself was accused of the murder of David Byrne but walked free after three Judges of the Special Criminal Court found him not guilty - citing a lack of evidence that he committed the crime at all. The feud also saw innocent dad of two Mr Kirwan shot dead after he had been merely pictured with 'The Monk' at Eddie Hutch's funeral, as well as the veteran gangster's friend Noel 'Kingsize' Duggan. Innocent Dublin city council worker Trevor O'Neill was another victim - killed in a horrific case of mistaken identity by a gunman targeting Jonathan Hutch on the island of Majorca in August 2016. Another innocent man - homeless Dubliner Martin O'Rourke, was also shot dead in the capital in April 2016 - after a gunman was targeting a Hutch associate in the area. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
06-07-2025
- Sunday World
Hezbollah funded record €157m Cork coke haul on MV Matthew
Kinahans collaborated with Islamic group to organise botched smuggling bid Dramatic footage of the major operation involving the Army Rangers, Customs, Gardaí, and the Navy was released on Saturday showing how they successfully boarded and captured the drugs ship as part of a joint operation. A record 2.2 tonnes of cocaine, worth around €157m, was seized on the ship off the coast of Cork after the dramatic operation which saw Army Rangers abseil onto the vessel after a Navy warship fired warning shots and gave pursuit off the coast southwest Ireland in September 2023. Drugs found on the MV Matthew Garda Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis confirmed yesterday that the Kinahan Organised Crime Group were being investigated in relation to the seizure. 'It would be reasonable to assume they would be one of a number of organised crime groups that would be involved in something of this nature.' Sources said the Kinahans are believed to have worked with multiple organised crimes groups, including a Scottish-based mob, European gangs, Iranian criminals and even terror organisation Hezbollah in organising the drugs shipment which was sourced from Clan de Golfo drug cartel in Colombia. Two Iranian men convicted this week over the haul are understood to have links to Hezbollah and the court was told there was a 'major Iranian nexus' to the operation. Sources also said there were indications of links between criminals involved in the plot and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a feared branch of the Iranian army. Officials refused to comment on any involvement of terror groups or state actors at a press conference in Haulbowline Naval Base in Cork on Saturday. While the Kinahan Cartel's Irish arm has taken major blows, it still operates on a global level and has made new alliances in recent years. Gang boss Daniel Kinahan David Caunter, director of Interpol's emerging crime directorate, told the Sunday World that the Kinahans were in the top tier of organised crime groups on Interpol's radar. 'I would say they are a top criminal organisation at the top level.' He said that he believes the heads of the cartel will be brought to justice. 'I think the arrest of Sean McGovern and extradition back here sends a clear message to organised crime that the reach extends across borders.' Asked if he felt Daniel Kinahan and other top players would eventually face justice, he said he was 'optimistic'. He added that the so-called super-cartel – which involved the Kinahans, the Balkan Tito and Dino Clan, Italian mafia boss Raffaele Imperiale and Dutch Moroccan trafficker, Ridouan Taghi – has now evolved after numerous senior figures were arrested and new alliances were formed globally. 'I think it continues to evolve. These cartels are very resilient. They are looking for new ways to get their drugs to market. It's changing. Drugs found on the MV Matthew 'They are looking to develop partnerships in parts of the world where they hadn't necessarily developed these partnerships before… that global connection is quite strong. 'The local traffickers may not understand that they are just a piece of this larger transnational global crime picture.' Read more 'We know that especially in the Middle East we have seen some connections down in South America between these organised crime groups and this case shows there are strong linkages.' He said that nowhere was safe for organised crime groups such as the Kinahans and their international partners. 'We will find you and bring you to justice,' he warned. He said he could not comment on any potential Hezbollah links but added: 'You do see how drug trafficking has become a national security issue. These criminal groups are quite strong and have unlimited resources. With that you're going to see that blending between various actors.' Busted: Soheil Jelveh (52) Busted: Cumali Ozgen (50) Busted: Vitaliy Vlasoi (33) He said Ireland was an obvious entry point into Europe to smuggle drugs because it is an island with a lot of coastline. Attempts to smuggle drugs by sea into Ireland escalated in recent years after clampdowns in European ports used by smugglers in the Netherlands and other jurisdictions. Gangs, including the Kinahans, have now turned their focus towards west Africa as an entry point smuggling route for drugs destined for Europe. Assistant Commissioner Willis said people like those sentenced this week were dispensable to cartels. 'Transnational organised crime gangs know no borders; they prey on people's vulnerability for their own financial gain. People are expendable who are no longer of use to the criminal organisation. Life is cheap and protecting their core criminal interest which is money is key priority.' She said anyone who consumes drugs is funding these criminal organisations and 'directly linked to the misery and suffering' those gangs inflict on communities. While the haul was organised in the Kinahans' current base in the UAE, gardaí have also identified Irish-based criminals as part of further investigations following the seizure. 'The next phase of the operation is to look at the peripheral involvement of other people here in Ireland and abroad, and that phase has now commenced and that will also include looking at asset recovery of those people.' Busted: Harold Estoesta (31) Busted: Saeid Hassani (39) The dramatic video of the joint operation to take down the MV Matthew included messages and voice notes from a United Arab Emirates criminal with links to Hezbollah describing himself as Captain Noah, who was urging the crew not to panic even after authorities have engaged with them. However, he later said he was close to a 'heart attack' as the Navy gave pursuit and eventually ordered the crew to burn the drugs when he realised they were going to be stormed. Assistant Commissioner Willis said authorities believe Captain Noah is still alive and operating in the Middle East. Members of Army Ranger Wing stormed and captured the vessel in less than 10 minutes and the Irish Naval Service fired warning shots after the vessel failed to stop and tried to sail away destined for Sierra Leone. On Friday, eight men received prison sentences combing 129 years in relation to the seizure. Six men pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on board the MV Matthew between September 24 and 26 2023. Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49), who was described as the 'eyes and ears of the criminal organisation' on board the vessel, received a sentence of 20 years, while the second officer, Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) received a sentence of 18 years. The captain of the vessel, Iranian Soheil Jelveh (51) received 17-and-a-half years in prison. Ukrainian nationals Vitaliy Vlasoi (33) received a 16-and-a-half-year sentence and Mykhailo Gavryk (32) received 14 years' imprisonment. Irish Army Rangers abseiling down to the MV Matthew before seizing the ship Footage as eight men jailed for involvement in Ireland's largest drugs haul Saeid Hassani (40), who was the third officer, received a 15-year sentence. Two other men, who were on the boat, the Castlemore , that had been purchased in Castletownbere to collect drugs from the main vessel, were also sentenced for attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply. Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa (62), with an address at Rudenka, Repina Str in Berdyansk, received a sentence of 14-and-a-half years. Jamie Harbron (31), of South Avenue, Billingham in the UK, received a sentence of 13-and-a-half years in prison. The company who bought the MV Matthew cargo ship set up a website just six weeks before the seizure, with servers based in the United Arab Emirates boasting how their 'extensive network of partners and port authorities allow us to efficiently navigate through various regions'. Busted: Jamie Harbron (31) Busted: Vitaliy Lapa (62) The ship, which flew under the Panama flag, was purchased by the newly formed company Matthew Maritime just six weeks before the seizure. It was called the MV Honmon before its name was changed to the MV Matthew while it was travelling through the Caribbean from Aruba to Willemstad in Curaçao. Matthew Maritime is headquartered in the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific Ocean and shares an address with several shipping companies who have been placed under international sanctions for a variety of reasons. Matthew Maritime claimed that the company has carried out 1,000 deliveries on 1,216 voyages to 100 international ports despite the fact the company itself was only set up in July. The MV Matthew is also the only ship that Matthew Maritime owned and it had not made 1,216 voyages. The website for Matthew Maritime was also only set up in July 2023 and remains online makes various claims about the firm which do not seem to match up with a company with one ship that was only set up a few months previously. They describe the company as having 'a strong industry legacy and a worldwide presence'. 'We specialize in managing bulk carrier vessels with precision and expertise, ensuring the smooth and secure transportation of dry cargo across the globe. 'Our unwavering dedication to quality, environmental stewardship, and advanced technology distinguishes us as the go-to choice for clients seeking seamless shipping solutions and profitable ventures in the maritime domain. Come aboard as we chart a course towards prosperity and sustainability together.' The movements of the MV Matthew in the run-up to the seizure had raised suspicions with various authorities. It travelled through various stops in the Caribbean, including the island of Curaçao, before heading to Georgetown in Guyana in South America. It picked up cargo before sailing across the Atlantic to Morocco and on towards Irish waters. While it initially listed its next destination as Gdansk in Poland this was changed to Belfast mid-journey. Matthew Maritime did not make any attempt to claim the MV Matthew in the almost two years since it was stormed by the Defence Forces and seized by the State. It emerged yesterday that a potential buyer has now been found for the vessel.
Irish Daily Mirror
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Michael McGrath 'very anxious' to extend agreements on judicial cooperation
Ireland's European Commissioner Michael McGrath said he is 'very anxious' to extend agreements on judicial cooperation with the UAE and other countries. In a precedent setting case, Daniel Kinahan's right hand man Sean McGovern was flown back from the UAE to Ireland last month. He was then charged with murder and four gangland offences in a sitting at the Special Criminal Court. The thug was the first to be extradited from the country that until recently was seen as a safe haven for Irish criminals. Mr McGrath, who is EU Commissioner for Justice, said he is currently working to extend a relationship with the UAE. Asked about the possible extradition of Daniel Kinahan in Brussels earlier this week, Commissioner McGrath said: 'I can't get into individual cases but my responsibility as justice commissioner does extend to cooperation with third countries, countries outside the EU. 'We are very anxious and I'm personally determined to extend a network of agreements that we have on judicial cooperation with third countries.' The Commissioner said in recent months there have been talks involving his team and the UAE, and in April he visited the country. He believes this has created 'a better relationship in progress on these issues'. Mr McGrath added: 'My focus as justice commissioner is extending the network of agreements that we can develop with third countries to improve judicial operations. 'The UAE would be on the list of countries that I would like to improve the level of cooperation with. That compliments the work that member states are doing with the successful completion of the extradition agreement with Ireland and the UAE.' The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Sunday World
23-06-2025
- Sunday World
Kinahan cartel on alert as major drug lord arrested in Abu Dhabi
The arrest is likely to shake up the Kinahan cartel as the UAE moves away from being the safe haven for criminals it once was. International drug lord Dritan Gjika has been arrested in Abu Dhabi – a move likely to shake up the Kinahan cartel as the UAE moves away from being the safe haven for criminals it once was. The Albanian cocaine trafficker, considered to be one of the leaders of drug trafficking worldwide, was arrested as part of Operation Pampa, Spanish police have said. As part of the investigation, his Albanian criminal organisation, based in Ecuador, was dismantled. Dritan Gjika News in 90 Seconds - Monday June 23 40 people were arrested in Spain and Ecuador during 62 searches connected to the operation More than €500,000, $2.3 million, as well as weapons and 12 high-end vehicles, were also seized. Eight members of the gang were convicted in January for money laundering. Dritan Gijka was on the run for 14 months, after vanishing from his home in Guayaquil, Ecuador where he ran his drug trafficking ring since 2009. He went to the South American country on a temporary visitor's visa and stayed for 15 years. He became one of the country's most wanted men for his involvement in shipping cocaine to Central America and Europe. The 47-year-old was arrested in Abu Dhabi on May 26th. He was the subject of two Interpol Red Notices for drug trafficking, money laundering and organised crime. The Ministry for the Interior in Ecuador have said that his sophisticated network included a management team and logistics personnel. They also say he used legitimate businesses to launder money and conceal his financial activities. It's alleged that his network laundered money through companies in Spain and the UAE, InSightCrime has reported. It has further been alleged that he received protection from the former head of Ecuador's police, while his business partner, Ruben Cherres, was a central figure in a corruption case involving the brother-in-law of former Ecuadorian president Guillermo Lasso. Dritan Gjika is just the latest high-level international drug lord to be arrested in the United Arab Emirates. Kinahan associates, and key figures in the so-called 'super cartel', Ridouan Taghi and Raffaele Imperiale, were both arrested in the United Arab Emirates and extradited to face serious charges in the Netherlands and Italy. Daniel Kinahan Meanwhile, Balkan mob boss Edin Gačanin was arrested in Dubai in March. He is facing extradition to the Netherlands to serve a seven-year jail term handed down in absentia. Last month, Daniel Kinahan's right-hand man Sean McGovern was extradited to Ireland to face murder charges after being arrested in Dubai in October 2024. It came days before the Middle Eastern country signed an extradition and mutual legal assistance treaty with Ireland. Upon his return to Dublin, McGovern appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, who was shot dead in Clondalkin in December 2016. He was also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in relation to the murder from October 20th to December 22nd, 2016. He is the most senior member of the cartel to be charged before the Irish courts.
Sunday World
02-06-2025
- Sunday World
Sean McGovern ‘relieved' to be back in Ireland after eight months in Dubai jail
The Kinahans are 'not panicking' over McGovern's extradition Senior Kinahan gang member Sean McGovern was 'relieved' to be extradited back to Ireland after spending eight months in prison in Dubai. A source involved in his 'complicated and secretive' extradition said gardaí believed he was being returned home on a couple of other occasions in recent months, only for legal issues to arise at the last minute. The 39-year-old Dubliner is one of cartel leader Daniel Kinahan's closest confidants. The leadership of the Kinahan cartel, including Daniel, his father Christy Sr and brother Christopher Jr, remain in Dubai. The Kinahans are 'not panicking' over McGovern's extradition and 'have no plans to flee Dubai', according to garda intelligence. 'They've no plans to flee, and if they did, we would be able to find them because of international co-operation,' a source said. Gardaí are awaiting a direction from the DPP on whether Daniel Kinahan and other members of his family should face a range of criminal charges, including leadership of an organised crime gang. Sean McGovern News in 90 seconds - June 2nd The state prosecutor has been considering an extensive garda file on Daniel Kinahan and other senior cartel members for two years. 'It could be a good sign there is no direction yet. It means the DPP is very thoroughly looking at it,' the source said. As first reported in the Sunday World last year, the proposed extradition of McGovern was seen as a 'test case' for plans to eventually attempt to return Daniel Kinahan to Ireland to face charges. The source pointed out that navigating the extradition process for McGovern would prove 'very helpful' if gardaí make attempts to extradite Daniel Kinahan. 'The extradition process for Sean McGovern was challenging. Due process had to take place, which meant a lot of legal issues had to be overcome,' the source said. A good relationship was developed with authorities in the United Arab Emirates and there was a significant amount of help from Interpol on this case too, but it was a secretive process and very different to our own.' Armed gardaí outside courts ahead of the appearance of Sean McGovern last Thursday. Photo: PA It is understood gardaí did not receive regular updates on developments in Dubai in relation to McGovern's planned extradition and instead 'had to trust the process'. Meanwhile, the father-of-two's journey home on a military aircraft that made a number of stops en route passed off without incident. McGovern's partner and the mother of his two children is expected to return to Ireland from Dubai. McGovern, formerly of Kildare Road, Crumlin, is the most senior member of the Kinahan crime group to be charged before the Irish courts. Sean MCGovern and Anita Freeman He appeared in the Special Criminal Court last Thursday evening, shortly after arriving in Ireland. He is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan (62) at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin, on December 22, 2016. Kirwan was shot dead as he sat in his car with his partner in the driveway of her home. He was not involved in the feud, but was targeted after being spotted beside Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch at a funeral. McGovern is also charged with directing a criminal organisation involved in the conspiracy to murder a rival gangster. The alleged offences were carried out as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud, which claimed up to 18 lives in Ireland and abroad.
