This is Christy Kinahan, Ireland’s “Dapper Don.” The State Department accuses him of being the leader of a $1 billion drug-smuggling empire who has done business with “El Chapo” and Lebanon’s ruthless Hezbollah. Courtesy of the Irish Sun

Summary of original article shown below

Reported by Joshua Rhett Miller

Christy Kinahan, a former taxi driver in Dublin, rose to notoriety as an international organized crime boss known as the “Dapper Don.” Alongside his two sons, Daniel and Christopher Jr., he allegedly built a billion-dollar drug-smuggling empire that caught the attention of law enforcement agencies worldwide. The State Department has offered a $15 million bounty for information leading to their arrest, while the Treasury Department has sanctioned them. The Kinahans are accused of smuggling heroin and cocaine and engaging in money laundering, with reported connections to El Chapo and terrorist organizations.

Christy Kinahan’s criminal journey began in the early 1980s during Dublin’s heroin epidemic. He capitalized on the availability of cheap heroin from Afghanistan and swiftly became Ireland’s biggest supplier. Even after his arrest in 1986 and subsequent prison sentence, Kinahan continued his illegal activities, using a computer to expand his network. He relocated operations to the United Kingdom, Holland, and Belgium, establishing connections and expanding his criminal empire.

The Kinahans’ involvement in the world of boxing and mixed martial arts added another layer to their criminal pursuits. Daniel Kinahan founded a boxing management company, MTK Global, which represented notable fighters like Tyson Fury. However, their connections to the Kinahans led to controversy, and Fury was banned from entering the United States.

The Kinahan cartel’s notoriety extends beyond drug trafficking. They are linked to international terrorist groups like Hezbollah, with allegations of money laundering on their behalf. Their connections to Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and the Sinaloa Cartel have also been reported.

Despite their infamous status, no criminal charges have been filed against the Kinahans to date. The State Department’s reward is aimed at encouraging information that could lead to their arrest and conviction for their involvement in transnational organized crime. The pursuit of the Kinahans and their dismantling remains a priority for law enforcement agencies seeking to curtail their illicit activities and bring them to justice.

Read original report: https://nypost.com/2023/06/01/meet-irelands-dapper-don-christy-kinahans-1b-drug-gang-feuded-with-conor-mcgregor/amp/