Daniel Kinahan

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For the Ulster Unionist politician, see Danny Kinahan.

Daniel Joseph Kinahan (born 25 June 1977[1]) is an Irish reputed gang boss and boxing promoter from Dublin. 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 referred to by the media as 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 is party to the Hutch–Kinahan feud, which has resulted in 18 murders, most of which have taken place on the streets of Dublin since September 2015.[11][12][13][14]

Kinahan was reported to have fled his "safe-haven" of Dubai on 9 July 2020 as a result of the EncroChat probes.[15]

Early life[]

Kinahan was born in 1977. He is the eldest son of Jean Boylan[16] and Christy Kinahan, a convicted drug dealer widely reported to be the founder and leader of the Kinahan Cartel.[17] He grew up in Tallaght, then Oliver Bond flats.[18]

In 2001, Kinahan was one of five people arrested in connection with a "vicious attack" on two members of the Garda Síochána (Irish police) outside Shelbourne Park greyhound stadium in May of that year. He was charged with assault and refused bail by Dublin District Court in July 2001. In January 2002, the charges were dropped.[1]

Kinahan Cartel[]

In a 2009 diplomatic cable sent from a US embassy in South America to The Pentagon, Kinahan was described as a "suspected international drug-trafficking figure".[1]

Kinahan was arrested in Spain in 2010, during a joint Spanish–Irish–British operation, in which SOCA, the predecessor to the UK's National Crime Agency, deployed more than 200 officers in the arrest phase of the multinational drug trafficking inquiry.[19]

Kinahan was the reported target of the 2016 Regency Hotel Shooting in which three people were shot, including Kinahan associate David Byrne (32), who was shot dead.[20][21] It was reported that the Garda Síochána believed Kinahan fled the attack by jumping out a window.[20] He has also been the target of at least one more assassination attempt.[19]

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.[22]

As of 2019, Kinahan lived in Dubai with brother Christopher Kinahan Jr.[23]

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.[24] His father, Christy Kinahan, and brother Christopher Jr, are also barred from entering the US.[19] Kinahan is reported to be a target for the UK's National Crime Agency.[19]

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).[25] 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 the Dutch ports.[26][27][28]

In January 2022, Ireland's Sunday World newspaper reported the Kinahan cartel had moved into the organic cannabis market, due to the relaxation of legislation in some countries where legally cultivated hemp can be grown for industrial and medical use, such as CBD oil.[29]

Wedding[]

He was married at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.[30] Guests included Ridouan Taghi, Ricardo Riquelme Vega (AKA El Rico), Naoufal Fassih and Raffaele Imperiale.[30] Dutch police are investigating claims by a man known as Nabil B that they were working together.[30] Messages recovered from Ennetcom servers have also supported claims that the criminals in question are doing business.[30]

Boxing promotion controversy[]

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 cut its ties with Kinahan.[31] However, he has remained a prominent figure in the international boxing world, including as an advisor and matchmaker for Fury.[32]

Despite cutting 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.[33]

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.[34] The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs contacted authorities in the United Arab Emirates regarding Kinahan.[35] 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."[36]

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.[37][38]

Later in June 2020 Tyson Fury ended his relationship with Kinahan, according to Bob Arum.[39]

Panorama documentary[]

In February 2021 BBC Panorama broadcast a report on Kinahan's involvement in boxing.[40] Barry McGuigan spoke of intimidation in boxing.[40] Daniel Kinahan denied the allegations.[40]

Robert Smith, of the British Boxing Board of Control, said that there was nothing that the Board could do about Kinahan.[41] On the Panorama programme, lawyers acting for MTK Global confirmed that Kinahan was still advising fighters.[41] 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."[41] (Lee Eaton is an employee of MTK Global.[41]) Smith said that a loophole in the regulations of the Board meant that they were powerless to regulate "advisers" such as Kinahan.[41]

On 5 February the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced that the Panorama team who produced the documentary had been threatened.[42][43][44] 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.[45]

On 7 February 2021 Billy Joe Saunders 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.[46] Tallant, who writes for the Sunday World, rejected the offer.[46]

On 8 February 2021, Kinahan issued a statement to Talksport in the UK denying that he was part of any criminal organisation.[47][48] He also denied making threats to a journalist and confirmed that he was still involved in boxing.[47][48] He claimed the Panorama programme "was a rehash of unsubstantiated allegations that have been made previously on many occasions".[47][48] He criticised the Special Criminal Court (despite being named as very senior figure in organised crime on a global scale by the High Court[49] – not the SCC) and said he had no convictions.[47][48] Kinahan has never contested findings of fact made against him in Irish courts.[50]

Summons issued[]

In December 2020 a racketeering summons was served to him in Qatar by US lawyers.[51][52] Boxing promoter Moses Herrida file a civil cause of action over the signing of Joseph Diaz while he was under contract to Herrida Boxing Management.[51][52] 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.[51][52] Herrida also claims that Daniel Kinahan and MTK are in breach of the RICO Act, which can be used in civil cases.[51][52] 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.[51][52] 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.[51][52]

Companies owned or operated by Daniel Kinahan[]

Ireland[]

Kinahan has been the owner of several companies in Ireland, sometimes with his aunt Denise Kinahan:[53]


Company Location Date opened Date closed Claimed purpose Director Secretary Note
Fairfold Ltd[53] Bluebell, Dublin[53] 22 November 1999[53] June 2002[53] import and export[53] Daniel Kinahan[53] Denise Kinahan[53]
Green Clean Clinical Ltd[53] Whitefriar Place, Dublin[53] September 2000[53] January 2004[53] contracted cleaning services for "office and industrial spaces"[53] Daniel Kinahan[53] Denise Kinahan[53]
The Curious Cat Ltd[53] Whitefriar Place, Dublin (same address as Green Clean)[53] October 2000[53] January 2004[53] interior design, furnishing and carpet supply Daniel Kinahan on board[53]
unnamed furniture company[53] Clanbrassil Street, Dublin[53] 1999[53] 2003[53] furniture shop Daniel Kinahan on board[53] His address was given as Oliver Bond House.[53]

None of these companies ever filed any accounts.[53]

Spain[]

Daniel Kinahan has also been connected to companies in Spain:[54]

Company Location Date opened Accounts last presented Status Claimed purpose Note
Warm Beach SL[54] Nueva Andalucia[54] August 2006[54] August 2006[54] Assets frozen as of 2016[54] real estate, clothes and toy import-export[54] Daniel Kinahan listed as a director[54]
The Score Emerald Group SL[54] Nueva Andalucia[54] April 2005[54] Assets frozen as of 2016[54] building firm[54] Daniel Kinahan listed as a director[54]
Sea Dream Homes SL[54] 2007[54] in liquidation as of 2016[54] import-export, also sale of retail and wholesale items such as clothing, perfulmes, toys and electronics Daniel Kinahan linked to company[54]
Minotauro Trading[54] Estepona[54] 2007[54] real estate, management of sporting activities, management of car parks, import-export of plants and seeds, insecticides Daniel Kinahan listed as director and sole shareholder,[54] Denise Kinahan listed as administrator[54]

References[]

  1. ^ 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.
  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. 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. ^ Foy, Ken; Feehan, Conor (9 July 2020). "Gardai probe reports that hunted mob boss Kinahan has fled his safe-haven of Dubai". The Herald.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Lally, Conor (17 February 2016). "The six unsolved gun murders linked to the Kinahan cartel". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Lally, Conor (8 February 2016). "Regency Hotel shooting: Cutbacks saw gardaí miss a big target". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  22. ^ Gallagher, Conor (11 June 2020). "Daniel Kinahan's role in major boxing match draws ire". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  23. ^ "How the Kinahan crime gang were jailed". RTÉ News. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  24. ^ "'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.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "Taghi part of "super cartel" controlling third of EU cocaine trafficking: report". NL Times. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  27. ^ "Bundelen cokekartels de krachten in Dubai?" (in Dutch).
  28. ^ "Werkt Ridouan Taghi samen met deze drugshandelaren?" (in Dutch).
  29. ^ "Kinahan cartel moving into organic cannabis market as prices soar across Europe". sundayworld. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "MTK distance themselves from Daniel Kinahan as they announce Ireland 'boycott'". Irish Independent.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ Government express ‘outrage’ to UK sports minister over Kinahan boxing involvement Irish Times, 2020-06-11
  35. ^ Carroll, Rory (11 June 2020). "Irish government contacts UAE over crime boss role in Fury-Joshua bout". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  36. ^ Harrison, Shane (11 June 2020). "Daniel Kinahan: Questions over Fury-Joshua fight promoter's 'drug gang links'". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  37. ^ Rumsby, Ben (16 June 2020). "Sports firm KHK drops Joshua-Fury broker Daniel Kinahan after controversy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  38. ^ Gallagher, Conor (16 June 2020). "Daniel Kinahan is dropped as adviser by sports company". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  39. ^ de Menezes, Jack (24 June 2020). "Tyson Fury splits from controversial advisor Daniel Kinahan". The Independent. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  40. ^ a b c McRae, Donald (1 February 2021). "Suspected crime boss Kinahan 'still working in boxing', Panorama reports". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ "BBC Panorama team threatened after programme about Daniel Kinahan's influence in boxing". RTÉ News. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  43. ^ Lally, Conor (5 February 2021). "BBC Panorama team face threats after Kinahan investigation". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  44. ^ MacNamee, Garreth (5 February 2021). "BBC documentary team threatened following Kinahan documentary". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  45. ^ Schiller, Robin (5 February 2021). "Member of BBC team behind Daniel Kinahan exposé warned of threat to life". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  46. ^ a b Glendenning, Barry (11 February 2021). "Reporter rebuffs Billy Joe Saunders' offer to fix Daniel Kinahan interview". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  47. ^ 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.
  48. ^ a b c d Lally, Conor (8 February 2021). "Daniel Kinahan denies making threats to a journalist". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  49. ^ "Government urged to pressure UAE to eject crime boss Daniel Kinahan". The Irish Times. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  50. ^ Reynolds, Paul (8 February 2021). "Daniel Kinahan denies involvement in criminality". RTÉ News. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  51. ^ 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.
  52. ^ a b c d e f Schiller, Robin; Foy, Ken. "US boxing chief sues Daniel Kinahan under crime laws". Irish Independent.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Cullen, Adam (17 February 2016). "How crime lord Daniel Kinahan used four cleaning companies to build an empire". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  54. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Phelan, Shane; Couzens, Gerard. "Kinahans linked to string of seemingly legitimate export companies that had assets frozen". Irish Independent.
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