Kinahan could live the high life in Dubai for another three years
Government sources say extradition will be slow process Cartel boss is enjoying plush pad in playground of rich & famous
Making absolutely no effort to hide from anybody SOURCE ON DANIEL KINAHAN IN DUBAI
WANTED drug lord Daniel Kinahan is living at a resort where all the rich and famous holiday in Dubai – as Government sources say it could take up to three years to have him deported.
He is staying in a plush apartment in the city’s Palm Jumeirah artificial island where he is protected by a team of elite Russian bodyguards.
Senior Garda and Government sources say it could take two to three years to have Kinahan, 46, sent back to Ireland to stand trial. Co-operation between the Dubai police and the Gardai has improved immensely in recent years with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris over there last September and cops from Dubai in Dublin a few weeks later in October. However it will take up to a year if not more before a new extradition agreement is in place.
And Kinahan has hired a hot-shot legal team led by a Pakistani business associate to fight an attempt to kick him out of Dubai.
A Government source said: “We expect it could take two to three years because of legal challenges to get Daniel Kinahan deported from Dubai. But it is doable.
“There are currently two Garda files on him before the Director of Public Prosecutions. One recommends he be charged with directing a criminal organisation and the other recommends he be charged with the murder of Eddie Hutch who was shot dead in Dublin in 2016.
“The DPP has yet to decide if there is enough evidence to prosecute. The Gardai can do no more and the decision is in the hands of the DPP. That alone could take several months. But it is getting an extradition agreement in place that will take the most time.”
The Kinahans are highly connected in the United Arab Emirates.
Many of the 200 companies that they use around the world to wash their drug money are based in Dubai – bringing valuable revenue there.
These companies range from food businesses, bars, restaurants, haulage, and even clothing companies.
The $5million reward put on the head of Daniel, his father Christy and brother Christy Jr by the Americans has so far not affected their lives. A source said: “They are living their lives as if there is nothing going on and are regularly seen out and about in Dubai. “Daniel’s main residence is on the Jumeirah Palm and he is making absolutely no effort to hide from anybody.
“The family also have other properties in Dubai that they can stay in, if they need to. They also have a back-up plan to flee to Oman if the Dubai authorities do turn on them, but they are also very well got with the Russians, and have Russian bodyguards.”
US authorities hoped the big reward would encourage associates to spill the beans on the Kinahan $1billion empire but that hasn’t happened yet.