The plane carrying Daniel Kinahan took off from Dubai bound for Ireland
An Irish government plane carrying Daniel Kinahan took off from Dubai bound for Dublin. Kinahan, 49, who was detained in the United Arab Emirates in April, is being extradited to Ireland, where he is expected to face charges of leading a criminal organization, according to BBC News.
According to flight tracking services, the plane left Dubai at 1:19 p.m. local time and is expected to arrive in Dublin by 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Upon arrival, Kinahan is expected to be charged immediately and brought before the Special Criminal Court without a jury, where cases are heard by a panel of three judges.
According to RTÉ News, armed Irish police officers, military personnel, and prison service staff are to be involved in the operation. Ahead of the extradition, the Irish Prison Service purchased a bulletproof and blast-resistant van that can be used to transport prisoners considered high-risk. RTÉ News also reported on the renovation of facilities at the high-security Portlaoise Prison, where Kinahen is expected to be held in custody pending trial.
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Kinahen has been challenging the extradition decision over the past few months, but these attempts have been unsuccessful. An Irish court issued an arrest warrant for him in April. In April 2022, the United States imposed sanctions on Kinahan and other members of his family after the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated them as leaders of the Kinahan organized crime group.
The UK’s National Crime Agency previously stated that the group had been involved in smuggling drugs and firearms into various countries for over 20 years and was linked to more than a dozen murders. Meanwhile, Kinahan’s attorney previously told BBC Panorama that his client has no criminal record and that the allegations regarding his role as the leader of a criminal group are unsubstantiated.
