KIN-PINS |Snap of Daniel Kinahan and Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh meeting for gang summit revealed 

MV Matthew drug ship cash traced to Kinahan’s Dubai stronghold

Senior Dubai police are now in Dublin to meet with gardaí

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Gardaí investigating the seizure of over two tonnes of cocaine from a cargo ship off the Cork coast have identified payments linked to the criminal enterprise which originated from Dubai.

The analysis of financial transactions further strengthens garda suspicions that the Kinahan crime gang, whose leadership is based in the Middle Eastern metropolis, had a significant investment in the seized drug shipment.

It comes as senior Dubai police officials this week arrived in Dublin to meet with members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

The delegation was invited by ­Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who himself visited the city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month in a bid to build stronger international relationships.

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Video: MV Matthew ‘Mothership’ docked in Cobh.

The purpose of this week’s visit is to discuss the co-operation between both police agencies in tackling transnational crime, in particular the Kinahan organised crime group.

While the visit has been planned for some time, a key aspect of the meetings now is focusing on financial transactions related to the 2,253kg of cocaine recovered from the MV Matthew cargo ship off the Cork coast.

Gardaí investigating the significant seizure have identified specific payments made to individuals linked to the alleged drug-smuggling network which are believed to have originated from Dubai.

They are now trying to establish if the remittance can be linked ­directly to associates of the Kinahan crime group based there.

Senior gardaí have said that the criminal enterprise would have had some Irish involvement, while Dubai remains the main base for much of the cartel leadership, including Christy Kinahan and his sons, Daniel and Christopher Jnr.

In total, €157m worth of cocaine was seized after the Army Ranger Wing stormed the cargo ship in a multi-agency operation on September 27.

The street value of the drugs, once cut down and sold on, would have been up to three times that estimation.

Senior detectives are now liaising with their Dubai counterparts in ­relation to the financial aspect of the seizure and are continuing to exchange intelligence and information.

A number of people have been arrested and charged as part of the inquiry.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said yesterday: “I want to welcome our colleagues from the Dubai Police to Dublin. The Dubai Police has already provided us with great assistance with our ongoing investigations into transnational organised crime and the support from this delegation will further advance that co-operation.

“This initiative is another demonstration of the value of the expansion of the Garda international network of liaison officers and visits made by myself and other senior officers to the US, Colombia, Dubai, Asia and across Europe in recent years.

“These organised crime gangs cause misery not only in the countries they originate from, but across the globe.

“It is only through international co-operation among law enforcement that these gangs will be disrupted and dismantled.

“I want to thank the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs for their support for the expansion of the Garda international liaison network, which includes offices in the US, Colombia, Dubai, UK and Europe, with an additional office in Thailand to open shortly,” Mr Harris added.

In July, a comprehensive investigative file was submitted to state prosecutors recommending that Daniel Kinahan be charged with directing an organised crime gang.

A large aspect of the case relies on compromised mobile communications – with the offence, on conviction, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Security services are also continuing to monitor the movements of Crumlin man Sean McGovern, who is wanted here to face charges of murder and involvement in the plot to kill Hutch associate James ‘Mago’ Gately.

McGovern, described as Daniel Kinahan’s “closest confidant”, is still believed to be in Dubai. Work on his return to face charges before the Special Criminal Court is continuing.

While Ireland and the UAE have no formal agreement on the removal of wanted persons, Justice Minister ­Helen McEntee this week held discussions with her counterpart in the Emirate about a bilateral extradition agreement.

Ms McEntee also discussed the possibility of this including mutual legal assistance going forward and the transfer of sentence prisoners, while describing the phone call as “productive”.