Daniel Kinahan was arrested in Dubai on Friday on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts, according to An Garda Síochána.
The force said the warrant relates to alleged serious organised crime offences and that the arrest was made in accordance with the bilateral extradition agreement between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. The Garda said the man arrested was in his late 40s.
An Garda Síochána said it was aware of the arrest of an Irish national in the United Arab Emirates and said the matter was now for the authorities there. “An Garda Síochána has been steadfast in our determination that we would pursue those allegedly involved in serious organised criminal activity, wherever they go,” it said in a statement.
The force described Friday’s arrest as an important demonstration of the need for international law enforcement co-operation in tackling transnational organised crime. It said it has developed numerous international partnerships to target transnational organised crime groups and that its relationship with the authorities in the United Arab Emirates, including the Ministry of Justice at judicial level and on a police-to-police basis, is valued.
The arrest puts the next step in the hands of UAE authorities, but it also shows how far Irish investigators are willing to push a case they link to serious organised crime, including beyond Ireland’s borders.
