US officials hit ‘Kinahan organised crime group’ with sanctions


  • Three most senior members of the Kinahan organised crime group have been hit with sanctions by the United States government
  • Sanctions mean it will be difficult for the named individuals to do business in the US, and they are also not allowed to fly on US airlines
  • US Department of Treasury releases chart of the ‘transnational criminal organisation’ and photos and details of all the named individuals
  • ‘Ireland should sanction UAE if Kinahan is not extradited,’ says Colombian vice-president

The Kinahan cartel’s leadership has been hit with serious financial sanctions by the US Government in an international strike against the drug trafficking gang’s assets.

Seven key associates of the cartel- including leader Daniel Kinahan– have been listed by the US Treasury Office as either acting directly for the crime group or providing it with material assistance.

It follows a lengthy investigation led by gardaí and involving US officials, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), and the EU’s law enforcement agency.

The sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) means that all property, or interests in property, linked to the named associates and three companies within the US must be reported and blocked.

Christy Kinahan is top of the list
Christy Kinahan is top of the list

This includes a ban on US companies doing business with the designated members, their finances in American banks being frozen, and not being able to fly with US airlines. People based in the US are also banned from acting on behalf of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group (KOCG).

Christopher Kinahan Jr  "regularly contributes to a fund that is used to pay KOCG members"
Christopher Kinahan Jr “regularly contributes to a fund that is used to pay KOCG members”

The 44-year-old has been named as running the day-to-day operations of the international gang and sending money to prisoners, including those serving jail terms for murder and an attempted murder on behalf of the group.

His father, Christy Kinahan Snr (65), is described as managing the “property portions” of the enterprise while Christy Jnr (41) “regularly contributes funds to be used to pay KOCG members”.

Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said: “The Kinahan Organised Crime Group smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe, and is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering.

“Criminal groups like the KOCG prey on the most vulnerable in society and bring drug-related crime and violence, including murder, to the countries in which they operate.

Sean McGovern
Sean McGovern

“Treasury is proud to have coordinated so closely with our international counterparts, and the U.S. government will continue to use every available resource to dismantle these criminal networks.”

Under the sanctions, all properties and property interests belonging to the named individuals or entities that are in the United States or in the possession of US individuals “must be blocked and reported to OFAC”.

Four of the gang’s most trusted members are also listed including key associate Sean McGovern(36) , currently based in Dubai, who is described as Daniel Kinahan’s “advisor and closest confidant”.

Evidence gathered as part of the international probe indicates that McGovern has managed the communications on behalf of Kinahan and that all dealings to through him.

Three others are Ian Dixon (32) who controls financial payments of the gang; Bernard Clancy (44) who organises wage payments and; Spanish based John Morrissey (61) who is described as an enforcer and facilitates drug shipments from South America.

Three companies have also been added to the sanctions list by the US Department of Treasury, including Hoopoe Sports LLC, a sport management company based in the UAE.

UK-based alcoholic beverage company Nero Drinks Company Limited is also listed along with UAE-based business management consulting company Ducashew General Trading LLC, controlled by Daniel Kinahan.

The sanctions mean that all property or interests linked to the Kinahan leadership and its key associates in the US must be blocked and reported.

“OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by US persons or persons within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons,” a statement said.

The sanctions can also be removed if a person “demonstrates a material change in behaviour”.

It describes the cartel as having bases in the UK, Spain, Ireland and the UAE and uses Dubai as a “facilitation hub for its illicit activities”.

“Since February 2016, the KOCG has been involved in a gang war with another group in Ireland and Spain, resulting in numerous murders, including of two innocent bystanders,” it said.

As part of the statement, the US Department of Treasury released a chart detailing the ‘Transnational Criminal Organisation’. The chart shows photographs of the seven named individuals, accompanied by their date of birth and their nationality, all Irish.


Found this interesting? Then check our main news page where you can find all articles related to Crypto, Crime, Darknet, Security and much more!