Crime cartel boss Christy Kinahan is still living in Dubai even though his residence permit has expired, as he faces potential extradition to Ireland following the arrest of his son.
Christy Kinahan Snr has enjoyed a life of luxury in the UAE for the past decade, using it as a base of sanctuary to avoid law enforcement while going by the name ‘Mr Vincent’.
The 69-year-old had lived in Dubai with his son Daniel, 49, since 2016, when they moved from the Costa del Sol in Spain following the murder of David Byrne in the infamous Regency Hotel attack that sparked a bloody gang war.
But in a move that took the crime family completely by surprise, Daniel was arrested by UAE authorities in April and is now facing extradition on an Irish arrest warrant.
The reported expiry of Christy Snr’s resident permit is a further sign of trouble for the family, with the boss said to be ‘tormented’ over the thought he too could soon be arrested.
One of the cartel’s most trusted men, Ian Dixon, has also now seen his permit expire according to publicly available documents, open-source investigative outlet Bellingcat first reported.
But Christy Kinahan Jr, 45, was issued with a new residency permit on July 20 for another two-year period.
The permit lists his current employment as a ‘sales officer’ at Island Star Tourism.
Christy Kinahan Snr has enjoyed a life of luxury in the UAE for the past decade, using it as a base of sanctuary to avoid law enforcement while going by the name ‘Mr Vincent’
Daniel Kinahan, Christopher Kinahan Jr and Christopher Kinahan Sr all have rewards of $5million offered for information that leads to their arrest and conviction
For each day that a person overstays their visa, they are liable to pay a fine – already more than $1,000 for Christy Sr and $11,000 for Dixon, who has reportedly overstayed by more than 850 days.
Under UAE law, employment residency visas are valid for two years at a time and the holder must also pass a fitness test.
It comes after the arrest of crime-boss-turned-boxing promoter Danny in April, which is said to have come as a ‘total shock’.
Danny, hunted by the authorities for years, was arrested on foot of a warrant issued by an Irish court in relation to directing an organised crime gang.
At the time a senior security source said Danny had invested ‘big money’ into UAE contacts and he believed this would lead to him being tipped off before any law enforcement action would be taken against him.
They told the Mail: ‘Because they had so much money splashed around the place, they thought they were important and would be tipped off. But that is totally not true, so they were blindsided.’
A source familiar with the operation added: ‘It’s probably one of the biggest criminal justice outcomes with organised and serious crime in the state’s history. It’s unprecedented. I’d say they’re in complete shock.’
Christy Snr and Daniel both have $5million bounties on their heads for any information that leads to their capture and conviction – as does Christy’s other son, Christy Jr.
The Kinahan cartel, authorities claim, control a significant share of the cocaine flowing into Europe and have been accused of money laundering through Hezbollah terrorists.
Investigators believe the family have worked with jihadists in Asia and helped both Russia and Iran evade sanctions by smuggling oil and ventured into cyber-crime.
Daniel Kinahan was arrested by authorities in April and is now facing extradition on an Irish warrant
Irish crime boss Christy Kinahan Sr was pictured for the first time in years at a 971 Fighting Championship in Dubai last June
But it is their links to Hezbollah – and therefore Iran – which are said to have caused an increasing tension between the Kinahan family and their formerly gracious hosts.
An expat security source previously told the Mail: ‘The missile and drone strikes have strengthened the view here that they need the US more than they need Iran,’ said the source.
‘So the Kinahans, given their links to Hezbollah… are starting to become an embarrassment to the UAE – and this place is all about image.
‘Their days are numbered, I’m convinced of it.’
Less than a month later, Daniel was in the custody of security forces.
The Kinahan cartel has been locked in a murderous feud with the Hutch gang, which began in 2015, when a nephew of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, Gary Hutch, was murdered in Marbella, Spain.
The gang war claimed 18 lives over the next three years and brought daylight shootings to the streets of Dublin.
The crime wave resulted in the Kinahans becoming Ireland’s most wanted criminals, and the involvement of the US government – and subsequent offer of financial reward – in 2022 already resulted in increased pressure on the family.
The signing of an extradition treaty between the UAE and Ireland in 2024, and then this year’s Middle East conflict however are what are really said to have worried the family.
The net also closed in tighter last month with the jailing of key lieutenant Seán McGovern.
McGovern was sentenced to 24 years in prison following his guilty plea to directing the activities of a criminal organisation.
As well as links to Iran, the Kinahans are also said to have had dealings with Russia and China, even having an emergency escape plan ready to leave for Moscow if necessary.
But until now, the family has been living openly in Dubai and doing little to conceal themselves. That approach may now be coming home to roost.
