A DELEGATION OF senior Dubai police are in Dublin this week for meetings with An Garda Síochána on the ongoing transnational investigation into the Kinahan organised crime gang. 

Their arrival comes after a direct invite was extended by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to the Commander in Chief of the Dubai police. 

The Kinahan organised crime group – which operates in part out of Dubai – has been linked to the shipment of cocaine that was seized off the coast of Co Cork, which was the largest seizure of the drug in the history of the Irish state. 

The Dubai delegation are in Ireland to co-operate and provide assistance to An Garda Siochana with its ongoing investigation into transnational organised crime. 

Speaking today, Commissioner Harris welcomed and thanked the Dubai police officers.

He said that their visit to Dublin this week will further advance the cooperation between the two police forces when it comes to investigating organised crime. 

“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,” Harris said. 

He also thanked the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs for their ongoing support for the expansion of the Garda international liaison network, which has offices in the US, Colombia, Dubai, the UK, Europe, and an additional office in Thailand which is to open “shortly”. 

Last year US authorities announced rewards totalling $15 million for information which helps bring three key members of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group to justice – namely Christy Kinahan Senior, the founder of the cartel, and his sons Christy Kinahan Jr and Daniel Kinahan. 

The sanctions they introduced at the same time target seven people who the US Treasury Department describe as key members of the cartel.

You can read more about the international effort to crack down on the Kinahan cartel here.

Yesterday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee had a phone call with the Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates about existing cooperation between Dubai police and the possibility of  a bilateral treaty on extradition, mutual legal assistance and transfer of sentenced prisoners. 

McEntee said that the “productive” conversation followed Harris’s trip to Dubai last month to meet with authorities. 

“Tackling organised crime is a key priority for Government and is central to building safer, stronger communities. Last year, the Government approved the expansion of the Garda Liaison Officer Network, following a request from the Garda Commissioner.

“The deployment of Garda Liaison Officers is an effective and practical form of interagency cooperation between police services. It has supported the exchange of information and the coordination of operations across borders,” she said yesterday.

McEntee added that borders will “not be barriers” to effective criminal justice cooperation, especially when it comes to tackling organised crime.