7 days ago
EXCLUSIVE The Iranian tax haven where Kinahan Cartel mobsters could relocate after one of Ireland's 'most wanted' is extradited from Dubai
Boasting glittering shopping malls, generous tax breaks and miles of sandy beaches, it's a Middle Eastern hotspot designed to tempt high-spending visitors.
While this might sound like a description of Dubai, it equally applies to Kish Island - the Iranian territory being touted as a potential new base for the Kinahan cartel.
The Irish mobsters r elocated to Dubai in the mid-2010s, taking advantage of the lack of an extradition agreement between the United Arab Emirates and the EU.
They are now believed to be planning a move after their alleged senior associate, Sean McGovern, became the first person to be extradited from the UAE to Ireland after a treaty was finally ratified.
Considered one of the world's most powerful organised crime gangs, the Kinahans are thought to have extensive connections with terrorist groups and rogue regimes in the Middle East, including Iran and its client militia, Hezbollah.
Given it is part of Iran, relocating to Kish Island would put the gang under the protection of the Islamic Republic, which refuses to cooperate with Western authorities.
But, unlike the strict sharia regime enforced on the mainland, Kish's status as a free-trade zone means it has more relaxed rules as well as a thriving hospitality scene.
Even so, this is hedonism with an Iranian twist – given alcohol is still prohibited, and women can only wear bikinis on one female-only beach surrounded by 10ft-high walls.
Dubai has long served as a sanctuary for the Kinahans, with the Dublin-born gang running their global drug-smuggling, arms-running, extortion and money laundering empire from the city with the tacit support of its ruling elite.
Founded by Christopher Kinahan, known as Christy, the cartel's day-to-day operations are now believed to be in the hands of his son, Daniel, who famously wed his wife Caoimhe Robinson during a lavish ceremony at Dubai's £1,000-a-night Burj Al Arab hotel.
Much of their money is in property, with records suggesting Ms Robinson has defied international sanctions to sell a significant amount of Dubai real estate, including a £4.3million mansion and a £10million luxury villa overlooking a golf course.
The Kinahans have also been able to invest in cryptocurrency, the gold trade – for which Dubai is an international centre – and have an estimated €1.5billion (£1.26bn) in offshore bank accounts.
But their cosy setup was rocked by Sean McGovern's extradition last week, with the 39-year-old taken to Dublin via military aircraft and charged with murder and other serious offences.
He is accused of being one of the most senior members of the Kinahan cartel and is wanted over the murder of Noel Kirwan, an innocent man who was shot in Dublin in 2016 amid a feud between the Kinahan and Hutch crime families.
And with Ireland's director of public prosecutions now considering whether to bring similar charges against Christy and Daniel Kinahan, the pair will be wondering if they could be next.
Europe's intelligence services believe McGovern's extradition will almost certainly prompt the Kinahans to relocate to another jurisdiction where they will be spared the threat of extradition, according to The Times.
Alongside Kish Island, other possible destinations include Russia or a country in Central Asia.
Kish has long been touted as a duty-free shopping and entertainment hub, with numerous malls and luxury resort hotels alongside white sandy beaches, coral reefs and ancient sites.
The island's potential was first spotted by the last Shah of Iran, who ordered the construction of a casino there in the 1970s, and for a time it was even served by direct Concorde flights from Paris.
It was once the fourth most-visited vacation destination in Southwest Asia after Dubai, the UAE and Sharm el-Sheikh. In 2010, it was ranked among the world's 10 most beautiful islands by The New York Times.
The Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Iran, but one site previously visited by tourists was the 'underground' city of Kariz-e-Kish, a maze of walled passages and clear openings stretching more than five miles.
Another tourist attraction is the wreck of the Koula F, a Scottish-built steamship that ran aground in 1966.
While Iran's increasing isolation has long driven Western tourists away, it still attracts Iranians and a smattering of Russians. In total, the island - which has a population of 40,000 - is said to welcome around one million visitors a year.
Last year, Christy Kinahan was named as the author behind hundreds of Google reviews, many of which commented on the quality of food and service at restaurants, cafes and luxury hotels.
And he will find plenty of places to eat out on Kish, with the best reviewed restaurant on TripAdvisor, the Koohe Noor, described as offering a 'unique cave-inspired ambiance' and traditional Persian meals including kebabs, stews, and fresh seafood.
The Kinahans appear to have business connections to Kish too, with the US Drug Enforcement Agency last year naming the island as one of the places they had used to launder money.
But even if they do decide they want to go there, it is far from a given that they will be able to do so.
In the event of Ireland requesting an Interpol red notice for the Kinahans, they risk being immediately detained by the Dubai authorities.
And given the UAE tracks non-citizens using an advanced biometric system, including retinal and iris scanning, it is thought to be almost impossible to leave the country using a fake identity.
All foreign citizens must undergo biometric registration to stay in Dubai.
Christy himself shared a Google review of his 2021 visit to the Department of Economic Development in Dubai to renew his residency card.
'Based on my experience whilst visiting this office, I rate this visit five star,' he posted.
With access to yachts and private jets, the Kinahans could feasibly seek to escape via an unauthorised sea or land route, but this would be risky.
McGovern's arrest and extradition is the latest blow to the Kinahans following the successful prosecution of their UK chief, Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh.
Kavanagh was originally handed a 21-year jail term in 2022. He was given another six years in 2024 for amassing a stash of firearms before sharing their location with police in the hope of securing a softer sentence.
Meanwhile, alleged Kinahan money launderer Johnny Morrissey was arrested by police on the Costa del Sol in September 2022 and accused by prosecutors of washing over €200million of drug money.
But he went on to be freed on €60,000 bail after the authorities failed to produce enough evidence to charge him.
The US State Department offered a $5million bounty for information on Christy Kinahan, Daniel Kinahan or Christy Kinahan Junior.
And with the net now tightening on the family's Dubai bolthole, their future looks far from certain.
