‘We will bring the Kinahan cartel’s bosses to justice’
Taoiseach and Justice Minister make vow as US cops plot move
SIMON Harris today vows to finally bring the leadership of the Kinahan cartel to justice.
In his first comments about the gang since becoming Taoiseach, he exclusively told us he will “fully support” gardai.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Helen Mcentee revealed to us that efforts are being made for them to be taken down during the remaining 11 months of this government.
Their comments come as we today reveal that the US Drug Enforcement Administration has its sights on Christy Kinahan Snr and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jnr and are expected to move before Irish authorities in lifting them from their Dubai bolthole.
Sources say the DEA has been quietly building a massive case against the Kinahan cartel, after US authorities announced crippling sanctions against its leaders two years ago – and a bounty of $15million for information.
It is now understood the DEA hopes to move against the Kinahans soon, and may even do so before the Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland decides on whether charges should be implemented against its leaders later this year.
On the foot of this information this paper asked the newly-elected Taoiseach and the Justice Minister whether they hoped to now bring about the prosecution of the Kinahan cartel leadership within the remaining year of the coalition government.
Mr Harris said: “The Kinahan gang has heaped death and misery on communities across this country.
“The gardai have been relentless in their pursuit.
“I fully support their work and will continue to support Commissioner Harris in his painstaking work to bring these criminals to justice.
“The Minister for Justice and I will remain fully briefed.”
Meanwhile, Ms Mcentee, who kept her job after Harris’s reshuffle of the cabinet last week, gave strong remarks to this paper, telling us she was doing “everything possible” to bring about the prosecution of the Kinahan cartel leaders within this government term – which is due to expire in March
Kinahan gang has heaped death and misery in Ireland SIMON HARRIS YESTERDAY
2025. She said: “It is vital that those who commit crime and spread untold misery face justice, so of course, I want to see as many members of the Kinahan gang as possible prosecuted.
“I’m working with the Garda Commissioner to do everything possible to ensure that happens.
“Every effort possible is being made in this government term to deliver that outcome and I am working constantly to support the Garda Commissioner in this work.”
Sources say it is hoped that United States authorities will move to arrest the Kinahan cartel leadership first, which would also make any future Irish case even easier for gardai to pursue.
Irish authorities privately hope that the US steps in to have the Kinahans deported from Dubai to face justice, so that any Irish arrest warrant can then be more easily implemented.
Cartel godfather Christy Kinahan Snr, who was thought to have handed the keys to his drug empire to his son Daniel, has over the years established strong business connections across several continents around the world, including Africa and South America.