The United Arab Emirates has frozen the assets of Daniel Kinahan, a former adviser to Tyson Fury. Daniel Kinahan was nominated by an Irish court as one of Europe’s largest drug cartels.
Earlier this month US Treasury Announced sanctions against what is known as the Kinahan Organized Crime Group (KOCG), for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Kinahan (44), father Christie Sr (65), and brother Christie Jr. (41). Announced $ 5 million in bounties each. Some other companions accused of money laundering.
Kinahan has been based in Dubai for several years, but this week the UAE has frozen his assets and the assets of several employees.
He stayed home until June 2020 when WBC World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Tyson Fury publicly praised Kinahan for mediating a lucrative unification contract with WBA, IBF and WBO champions Anthony Joshua. Little was known outside of Ireland.
The fight never happened because Deontay Wilder triggered a rematch clause with Fury, which confirmed that Kinahan was an important boxing player.
Fury will defend the title against Dillian Whyte in London on April 23 at Wembley Stadium in London, but when asked about sanctions against Kinahan earlier this week, the fighter known as Gipsy Kings: Said to. I keep my business to myself, that’s it. “
Top-ranked US promoter Bob Arum recently admitted that he paid Kinahan more than $ 4 million for four battles featuring Fury between 2019 and 2021.
But Frank Warren, the promoter of the Battle of Fury White, said: According to the top rank of Daniel Kinahan. “
Attempted assassination
In 2016, a rival gangster hitman killed a man, David Byrne, at a hotel in Dublin during a failed attempt to assassinate Kinahan in boxing weighing. Tit-for-tat feuds have resulted in more than 20 murders in Dublin, and rival gang leader Gerry Hutch will be tried for Burn’s murder later this year.
Nicola Tarant, Irish Crime Journalist and Writer Clash of Clans“Daniel Kinahan’s ego defeated him. He stayed in the background for a long time, but when Tyson Fury called him, he got Kinahan’s approval. I did. Kinahan wanted to be seen as a new Don King. He wanted to be advertised. He couldn’t help himself. “
Kinahan began registering as a boxer in 2013, but his founding company, MTK Global, has announced that it will be closed this week.
MTK Global tweeted on April 20th. “Since the US government sanctions by Daniel Joseph Kinahan, we have faced an unprecedented level of unjustified scrutiny and criticism as a business.”
They went on to say that Kinahan was no longer involved in MTK from 2017, adding: Decided to suspend operations at the end of this month. “
On April 12, the United States imposed sanctions on Kinahan and seven other employees as part of a bid to hurt their financial operations.
“European Super Cartel”
Talent said: [Drug Enforcement Administration] It has succeeded Kinahan since he formed the European Super Cartel with the Balkan Cartel, the Dutch Mochromafia and Rafael Imperiale, the head of Camorra. [mafia based in Naples, Italy].. They bought large quantities of drugs in the United States, sent them through Philadelphia, and had a great deal of involvement with Colombians. “
Brian E. Nelson, Deputy Secretary of State for Terrorism and Financial Information in the United States last week, said, “The Kinahan Organized Crime Group is smuggling deadly drugs, including cocaine, into Europe through its role in international money laundering. It poses a threat to the entire legal economy. “
US officials said the DEA is working closely with Irish police, the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom, and Europol’s law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Tarant said international law enforcement agencies are trying to “cut off the oxygen supply” for Kinahan’s funding.
She said Kinahan wanted to “sports wash” their money, but she said boxing was just one of the many businesses they were involved in.
“They have invested in China and Russia. Christy Kinahan Sr. claims to be an aviation broker and is also involved in healthcare, green trading and business in Africa,” said Tarant. .. “They recently transferred some of their money to Oman and have seen Pakistan and Azerbaijan, but they are only welcome if they have the money.”
Ireland’s Minister of Justice Helen McEntee welcomed the UAE’s announcement and said: “This shows the swift impact of the sanctions announced last week to dismantle the Kinahan Organized Crime Group …. Now, the Kinahan Organized Crime Group’s net is clearly tightening.”
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Chris Summers is a UK-based journalist with a particular interest in crime, police and law, covering stories from a wide range of countries.