Irish businessman and reported gang boss Daniel Kinahan has been placed under sanctions after US officials announced a raft of measures against the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. Tyson Fury has been spotted in recent weeks with Kinahan in Dubai, which is part of a long-term relationship between Fury and Kinahan as the founder of the MTK Global management company, for whom Fury is its most high-profile client.
Kinahan is one of seven individuals who has been sanctioned by the US treasury, with officials saying that Kinahan he "is believed to run the day-to-day operations of the organisation". They also described the group as 'murderous' amid links to international drugs and firearms trafficking and money laundering.
The Irishman's father Christopher Snr and brother Christopher Jnr have also been sanctioned in the move which also freezes the assets of three businesses owned by the group. The sanctions also mean that anyone in or transiting in the United States will be banned from dealing with them as well as a ban on dealing in US Dollars, the main currency in boxing promotion - of which Kinahan holds an interest.
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The Treasury Department says that the group use Dubai as a 'hub' for its activities, which is where Fury was pictured with Kinahan in February. Fury has made no attempt to hide his relationship with the man described by named by the Irish High Court as the controller and manager of the gang.
In the past, he has praised Kinahan, describing him as a 'key adviser' despite him supposedly stepping away from promotion in 2017 and boxing altogether in 2020. In an infamous 2020 video Fury praised Kinahan's role in negotiating a fight with Anthony Joshua, which eventually fell through.
He said: "I'm just after getting off the phone there with Daniel Kinahan. He's just informed me that the biggest fight in British boxing history has just been agreed.", He added, "Big shout out Dan, he got this done. Literally over the line. Two fight deal.".
In addition to the sanctions the DEA have offered rewards of up to $5m (£3.8m) for information leading to the arrest of any of the three men. Despite this, last month World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaimán offered "full backing" to the Irishman's involvement in the sport after a meeting in Dubai.
Kinahan has previously denied allegations of criminality as part of a 'campaign' against him, after a BBC investigation revealed his links to the world of boxing last year. However, today's sanctions shed further light on the Irishman. Matt Horne, deputy director of the NCA which has previously secured convictions against members of the Kinahan group has described the threat posed by the 44-year-old.
“We target criminals who cause the most harm, are the most violent, those who exploit the vulnerable, and dominate communities. The Kinahan crime group fall into all of those categories,” he said.
“They have transcended international boundaries – distributing multi-million pound shipments of drugs throughout Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe, and have been engaging in firearms trafficking and money laundering.
“They thought they were untouchable but the sanctions imposed today will be a huge blow to the Kinahans. It has cut them off from the global financial system, making them toxic to legitimate businesses and financial institutions, and will cause other criminals to think twice about doing business with them.
“Additionally, it shows that we will explore every opportunity available to disrupt their criminal activities and, rest assured, we will not stop here.
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes, we will ensure those who are responsible for flooding the streets with drugs and firearms, laundering the proceeds of crime, ordering murders and inflicting violence are held to account for their action.”
