skip to main content

$5m rewards offered as Kinahan gang hit by US sanctions

Updated / Wednesday, 13 Apr 2022 10:04

The US government has imposed sanctions on the three most senior members of the Kinahan organised crime group and offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to their arrests or the financial disruption of the gang.

Daniel Kinahan, who has been named in the High Court as the controller and manager of the Kinahan gang, his father Christopher Snr, a convicted drug trafficker, and brother Christopher Jnr, who was caught travelling on a false identity document in Germany, have all been placed on an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list, which is a list of the US Treasury Department.

They are among seven members of the Kinahan gang, as well as three associated businesses, targeted by OFAC.

OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted international narcotics traffickers, as well as foreign countries and regimes and terrorists.

This morning, US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin said a reward of up to $5m is being offered for information that leads to the financial disruption of the group or the arrest or conviction of Christopher Kinahan Snr, Daniel Kinahan or Christopher Kinahan Jnr.

Ambassador Cronin said said transnational organised crime threatens global stability and democracy and that every year millions of lives are affected by transnational organisations due to drugs and crime.

She said the Kinahan organised crime gang has been accused of heinous crimes around the world including murder, trafficking in firearms and narcotics.

She said the Biden administration wants to send a clear message to transnational organised crime groups that the US will continue to work with its partners and make every effort to disrupt their activities and bring its leaders to justice, no matter where they are.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that this is only the "first phase" in the work to tackle the Kinahan gang.

He added that remaining members of the gang can run but "can't hide from justice forever".

Mr Harris said it is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, which will deal a crippling blow to the gang.

He said it shows the determination gardaí had to put an end to a gang that has caused so much destruction and death both in Ireland and abroad.

The commissioner said the activities of the Kinahan gang globally is estimated to have generated over €1bn.

He said other law enforcement agencies in Northern Ireland, Spain, Netherlands and Australia have already assisted in tackling the work of the gang and that while most of the Kinahan leadership are behind bars, he said it is true that some of the apex of the organisation are located in jurisdictions without extradition treaties to Ireland.

Commissioner Harris said he is confident the senior members of the gang will be brought to justice sooner rather than later and that that will be a good day for the citizens of this country and a good day for many others around the world.

WATCH: Prime Time examines whether the net is closing in on the Kinahan drugs cartel

Matt Horne, Deputy Director of Investigations at the National Crime Agency UK said the Kinahan gang "have transcended international boundaries distributing international shipments of cocaine and heroin throughout Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe".

Mr Horne also said that the group has been engaged in firearms trafficking and money laundering.

"It's estimated their illicit empire is worth over €1bn. Despite our collective successes over the years, the Kinahans have managed to evade capture by going to extreme lengths to ensure that they are far enough removed from their criminal activities," Mr Horne said.

"They used trusted associates to run the day-to-day operation and they enhance this position through their use of violence, intimidation and threats.

"The crime group has the wealth and resources to frustrate law enforcement efforts using corruption and they have received training in anti-surveillance and intelligence techniques.

"This has enhanced their ability to stay under the radar. They have also sought to locate themselves outside of Ireland and the UK to frustrate our efforts," he added.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin welcomed the "very significant" sanctions announced by the US and said the Government will consider offering a reward for information on the Kinahan gang and its leaders.

The US Department also targets those it believes are engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.

"The Kinahan Organised Crime Group smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe, and is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E Nelson.

What do sanctions mean for the Kinahan gang?

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

The sanctions against the Kinahan gang and its associated businesses in the UK and the United Arab Emirates mean US banks, financial institutions, companies and other organisations cannot do business with Kinahan organised crime group members and the three designated businesses.

It also means any money the Kinahans have in the US or in US banks abroad can be blocked, their credit and debit cards frozen and they cannot fly on US airlines as the airlines cannot do business with them.

The sanctions also block their property and their interests in property and impact on the Kinahans' boxing business and interests in the US.

Source: US Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control

Daniel Kinahan has claimed he advises boxers, including world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Garda sources say the sanctions imposed on the Kinahans are the equivalent of those imposed on Russian oligarchs.

US authorities say Christopher Kinahan Snr has five UK and Irish passports, has registered a number of companies under aliases or using abbreviations of his name, and has been known to have used false identity documents.

Daniel Kinahan also has five UK and Irish passports and three United Arab Emirates identification numbers while his brother Christopher Jnr has three UAE identity numbers and four Irish and UK passports.

The other four Kinahan gang members named in the sanctions list are Sean McGovern, who was shot at the Regency Hotel in 2016 and whose house and Rolex watches were seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau; Ian Dixon, who the US said arranged payments for Daniel Kinahan, and is based in Dubai; Bernard Clancy, who paid the wages to Kinahan gang members, and is based in Dubai, and John Morrissey, an enforcer, who is currently based in Spain.

The three companies on the list are Nero Drinks Company, a UK-based alcoholic beverage company, Hoopoe Sports, a UAE-based sports management and advisory company and Ducashew General Trading, a UAE-based business management consulting company.

The US authorities say all three are linked to the Kinahan organised crime group.

The US Treasury Department has directed that all property, and interests in property, of the Kinahan gang members and the three associated companies that are in the United States, or in the possession or control of US persons, must be blocked and reported to OFAC.

OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by a US person or persons within or transiting the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

US citizens violating these sanctions can face civil or criminal penalties.

The decision by US law enforcement to sanction them is the result of over six years of intensive investigation by gardaí and co-operation with international law enforcement agencies in the US, the UK and Europe.

More stories on

More by
Paul Reynolds

Crime Correspondent