An Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police force, announced on Friday that it is "aware of the arrest of an Irish National in the United Arab Emirates."
The male, in his late 40s, was arrested on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish Courts in relation to alleged Serious Organised Crime offences, An Garda Síochána said.
The arrest is in accordance with the bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and the UAE.
The arrest of the Irish National in Dubai remains a matter for the authorities in the UAE at this time, An Garda Síochána said.
While An Garda Siochana did not name who was arrested, the Dubai Media Office said on Friday that the Irish national who was arrested on April 15 has the initials of "D.J.K." and is "a member of a gang involved in international criminal offenses."
Major Irish publications are reporting that the Irish national who was arrested is Daniel Kinahan.
القيادة العامة لشرطة دبي، وبالتعاون مع وزارة الداخلية، تعلن إلقاء القبض على "د. ج. ك"، إيرلندي الجنسية، وهو عضو في عصابة متورطة في جرائم جنائية دولية في موطنه، وذلك خلال 48 ساعة فقط من صدور أمر النيابة العامة بتاريخ 15 أبريل الجاري. وأكدت شرطة دبي التزامها المستمر بدعم الجهود… pic.twitter.com/gkMXm7P2eR
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 17, 2026
Irish extradition request
An Garda Síochána also shared the statement issued by the Government of Dubai Media Office on Friday, which announced that an Irish fugitive had been arrested for his "alleged role in an international organised crime network."
The arrest, Dubai officials said, comes as part of efforts to combat cross-border crime.
"The arrest followed the receipt of a judicial file from Irish authorities detailing the suspect’s alleged crimes and his involvement in an international criminal organisation.
"Based on the file, Dubai Public Prosecution issued an arrest warrant to initiate legal procedures ahead of his extradition.
"Specialised teams immediately launched intensive search and surveillance operations, leading to the suspect’s capture within 48 hours of the warrant being issued.
"Dubai Police confirmed that the arrest took place on 15 April, reflecting the force’s rapid response and operational readiness in handling international cases."
Responding to the arrest, Ireland's Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said in a statement that the arrest "follows my request to the UAE for extradition of this individual to face charges in Ireland."
He noted that Ireland and the UAE have worked closely together in recent years "to advance criminal investigations into serious and organised crime, including the agreement of bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance in 2025."
O'Callaghan said he spoke with his UAE counterpart, Minister of Justice, His Excellency Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, to express his thanks and to "acknowledge the strong judicial co-operation in criminal matters between Ireland and the UAE."
He commended all who were involved in the development, adding that he will not be issuing further comments while the legal process is ongoing.
Who is Daniel Kinahan?
According to Ireland's Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), Kinahan, a native of Dublin, is a member of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group (OCG), "an international OCG involved in the importation and distribution of drugs and firearms."
In 2022, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Kinahan Organized Crime Group (KOCG), including Daniel Joseph Kinahan, as a significant transnational criminal organization and imposed sanctions on the group.
“The Kinahan Organized 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 then-Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
Daniel Kinahan was designated for "acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the KOCG," the US Treasury said in 2022.
"Each member of the KOCG reports to Daniel Kinahan, who is believed to run the day-to-day operations of the organization.
"Daniel Kinahan has instructed KOCG members to send money to a variety of individuals serving prison sentences, including a person convicted of attempted murder on behalf of the KOCG, and an individual imprisoned for murder on behalf of the KOCG.
"Daniel Kinahan, who sources large quantities of cocaine from South America, plays an integral part in organizing the supply of drugs in Ireland, and is attempting to facilitate the importation of cocaine into the United Kingdom.
"Daniel Kinahan is known to have used false identity documents."
The US Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Kinahan "for participating in transnational organized crime, namely narcotics trafficking and money laundering."
This week's arrest comes less than a year after Sean McGovern, who is allegedly a member of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group, was charged in Dublin after he was extradited from the UAE. McGovern pleaded guilty in March, directing a criminal gang in relation to the murder of one man and the surveillance of another.
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