The Kinahan cartel is one of the most notorious organized crime groups in Ireland, with a reputation for violence, drug trafficking, and money laundering. For years, law enforcement authorities have struggled to bring the cartel’s leaders to justice. However, according to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, significant progress has been made in recent months in the fight against the Kinahan gang. In this article, we will delve deeper into the advances made by Gardaí and analyze the potential impact of these efforts on Ireland’s ongoing battle against organized crime.
The Garda Commissioner has recently reported that significant progress has been made in bringing charges against the Kinahan Cartel leadership. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed financial sanctions on the crime gang’s hierarchy, including Daniel Kinahan, and offered a financial reward of $5 million for information on their whereabouts. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris stated that the Kinahan Cartel had been much diminished in the past year through efforts from law enforcement agencies across Europe and the US.
Speaking at the Annual Conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) in Galway, Harris said, “The whole purpose of this is to bring the leaders of the Kinahan organised crime group to justice. Significant advances have been made, particularly in Europe but also with our US federal law enforcement partners. Every month I’m updated on progress between ourselves and our partners. Work carries on, we always knew this would be a difficult target, but the group has been much diminished from what it was a year ago.”
Harris also confirmed that the Gardaí and other agencies were making significant progress and continued to work together to bring charges against the group, indicating that the Kinahan Cartel’s leadership was still believed to be in the Middle East. Additionally, the Gardaí have stepped up their activity and are dispatching a detective superintendent to the UAE this summer to obtain intelligence, act on it, and obtain evidence.
The Garda Commissioner made a point of stating that he had no preference as to whether Kinahan Cartel leadership should face trial in Ireland or another jurisdiction. The Gardaí’s goal is to have the Kinahan leaders face justice in some capacity, regardless of where it is.
The Gardaí have also extended their investigations to the Crumlin man, Sean McGovern, on suspicion of organized crime and murder of Noel “Duck Egg” Kirwan in 2016. Authorities issued a European Arrest Warrant for McGovern, who, like Kinahan Cartel leaders, is believed to be in the Middle East.
Commissioner Harris also stated that the Gardaí had responded immediately by putting additional resources to the border following an attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh. He added, “we’ve maintained a strong presence in the Derry, Donegal border area as well. So that is just part of our ongoing operational activity with the PSNI. We’re always there to support them.”
The Garda Commissioner added that his agency constantly reviews any threats that arise from this jurisdiction and collaborates with the PSNI to do all they can to stop any further attacks. He noted that the recent increase in the threat level was terrible news, but they remain committed to working with colleagues and the PSNI to support them in our shared goal of maintaining public safety.
The Garda Commissioner acknowledged that the Kinahan Cartel leadership’s arrest will be a difficult target, thanks to their use of complex networks and international resources. Nonetheless, Harris and the Gardaí remain committed to the ongoing work essential for dismantling the gang’s hierarchy and stopping its activities. With the collaboration of other agencies worldwide, Harris thinks progress should continue to be made in disrupting their operations and dismantling their data systems.
In conclusion, the Garda Commissioner is positive that significant progress is being made to bring Kinahan Cartel leadership to justice. While it remains a difficult target, Gardaí and other agencies worldwide are working together and stepping up their efforts for the common goal of stopping the group’s activities and bringing its leadership to justice.
