Christopher Vincent Kinahan, Sr. (born 23 March 1957)[1][a] is an Irish drug trafficker[2][3][4] with convictions for ecstasy and heroin smuggling.[5] He is the alleged leader of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, which he runs with his two sons.
Christy Kinahan | |
|---|---|
 A 2022 wanted poster of Kinahan by the DEA | |
| Born | 23 March 1957 |
| Other names | Dapper Don |
| Occupation | Head of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | Daniel Kinahan Christopher Kinahan Junior |
Reward amount | $5 million |
Wanted by | |
| Wanted since | 12 April 2022 |
Biography
editThe Guardian newspaper states that Christy Kinahan was born in St Teresa's Gardens, Dublin, in the south inner city, though an Irish passport cited by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) lists his primary place of birth as Cabra, Dublin further north. The OFAC also note that he uses a British passport stating his place of birth as Perivale.[4][1] The Irish Independent states that his father was a dairy farm manager.[6]
In 1986, he was caught with heroin valued at £117,000 in Clontarf, Dublin. He was subsequently jailed for six years after being arrested in Marino for crimes related to the seizure of this heroin[7] and was again arrested in 1993; charged with possession of stolen cheques, but was bailed and fled to the UK.
In 1997 he was arrested at a family funeral in Dublin on the stolen cheque charges, denied bail and eventually jailed for four years. He studied for two degrees whilst in prison.[6] and refused early release in 2001 to complete a degree.[6] While in prison he also learned to speak both Spanish and Russian.[citation needed] and moved to Europe in the early 2000s, where he is suspected of setting up drug routes into Western Europe for Mexican and Colombian cartels, and the Russian mafia.[6]
His home was raided by Spanish police in 2010, he spent a few months in jail, though no charges were brought. This allowed him to then continue on directing an international drug supply operation from his €6m villa in Estepona on the Costa del Sol.[6]
His ex-wife lived in Dublin and died in 2015.[6] His son Daniel is a boxing promoter, lives in a villa in Guadalmina and allegedly runs the day-to-day aspects of his father's gang.[6] He was probably the main target of the Regency Hotel shooting.[6] His son Christopher Jr is also involved in boxing.[6]
Other associates
editJohn Cunningham served 17 years for kidnapping Jennifer Guinness.[6]
Hutch-Kinahan feud
editGary Hutch was blamed for an attempt on Daniel Kinahan's life, so the Kinahans ordered him to be shot.[6] He was murdered in Málaga in late 2015. Gary Hutch was the nephew of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, the most successful [citation needed] armed robber in Ireland, and the Monk is said to have taken the murder very personally, refusing any attempt at a 'sit down' made by the Kinahans.
In January 2016, in an event that received international media attention, hitmen working for the Monk dressed up as Gardaí before attacking a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel in North Dublin. It is believed they were aiming for Christy Kinahan's son Daniel, who was in attendance at the weigh-in.[6]
On New Year's Eve 2015, gunmen associated with Kinahan are believed to have targeted Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch at a pub in Lanzarote. Hutch had, however, already left the bar.[8]
Other events
editBy February 2010 Kinahan was awaiting sentence in Belgium on money laundering charges.[3] He is believed, by UK detectives, to have laundered drug-dealing profits by funding 27 fixed horse races between December 2002 and August 2004. As a result of the alleged conspiracy, jockeys Kieren Fallon, Darren Williams and Fergal Lynch, faced criminal horse race-fixing charges at the Old Bailey.[9]
In March 2016 Julio Martinez, the chief prosecutor for the Marbella area, told El País that charges against Kinahan for money laundering were imminent.[10] Christy Kinahan already has convictions for money laundering in Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium.[10][7]
He is a suspect in six murders, including the father and uncle of Jamie Kavanagh in 2014 and 2015.[2]
In September 2020 Spanish authorities charged Kinahan with passport fraud.[11]
In April 2022 the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Christy Kinahan, his sons Daniel and brother Christy Jr. as well as several associates of the Kinahan family. The OFAC notice refers to the family and its associates collectively as the "Kinahan Organized Crime Group" or "KOCG." The action adds the Crime Group to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, pursuant to the United States International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Executive Order 13581.[12]
The addition to SDN List blocks any property of the designated persons within the United States financial system, and prohibits United States persons from business dealings with them. Violations of the sanctions, including assisting in their evasion, come with a maximum criminal penalty of twenty years imprisonment.[13][14]
On 12 April 2022, the United States Department of State announced the offering of rewards of up to $5 million USD under the Narcotics Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the Kinahan family members. The reward is offered jointly with the Garda Síochána, National Crime Agency, and Drug Enforcement Administration.[15]
Kinahan is believed to be hiding out in Dubai, a claim supported by Google Maps reviews posted as recently as 2023 under the alias 'Christopher Vincent' which appear to show his reflection in attached photos. The nature of the stores and restaurants reviewed point towards a luxurious lifestyle within the UAE, as well as detailing trips to Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Hong Kong for unspecified business.[16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Transnational Criminal Organizations Designations; Libya Designations Updates". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ a b Lally, Conor (17 February 2016). "The six unsolved gun murders linked to the Kinahan cartel". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ a b Breen, Stephen, "GANGSTERS' PARADISE" News of the World 21 February 2010
- ^ a b McDonald, Henry (9 February 2016). "Will the Dublin feud threaten Christy Kinahan's criminal empire?". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Cheston, Paul. "Police accused of incompetence and hiding 'timebomb' evidence", London Evening Standard 7 December 2007
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Two veteran Irish criminals, one vicious feud, two cold-blooded assassinations. Who's who in the Gang War". Irish Independent. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ a b Lally, Conor (7 February 2016). "Who is the kingpin behind Irish-led cartel based in Spain?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ Emma McMenamy Failed hit on Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch sees locked-up henchmen of Kinahan gang switch allegiance, Irish Mirror, 10 January 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016
- ^ Cheston, Paul. "Fallon race-fix trial collapses", London Evening Standard 7 December 2007
- ^ a b Lally, Conor (7 March 2016). "Kinahan gang may face money-laundering charges". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ Couzens, Gerard (30 September 2020). "Christy Kinahan Senior charged with passport fraud in Spanish court". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ Reynolds, Paul (12 April 2022). "US imposes sanctions on senior members of Kinahan gang". RTÉ News. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701–1708)
- ^ "Transnational Criminal Organizations Regulations" 31 C.F.R. §590
- ^ "Department of State Offers Reward for Information to Bring Three Irish Transnational Criminals to Justice". United States Department of State. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ Donelly, Connor Plunkett, Peter Barth, John Mooney, Beau (30 March 2024). "Kinahan Cartel: Wanted Narco Boss Exposes Whereabouts by Posting Google Reviews". bellingcat. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
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- ^ Based on passport records, U.S. Department of the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals lists Kinahan's date of birth as 23 March 1957. However, he is known to use identification with dates of birth including 19 November 1952 and 23 May 1957.