Kinahan Cartel: US sanctions cartel leader with links to Tyson Fury

Image source, BBC / SOLARPIX

The US has announced sanctions against members of the Irish Kinahan organised crime group.

The seven individuals who were sanctioned by the US Treasury include Daniel Kinahan, who worked as an advisor to Tyson Fury.

Treasury officials said that Mr. Kinahan is believed to be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the organisation.

The US says that the Kinahan cartel is one of the largest crime groups in the world.

The gang, which the Treasury Department says has interests in drug trade and money-laundering, operates in Ireland, the UK, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

US Under-Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said that the gang is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering.

Drew Harris, the Commissioner of Ireland's police force hailed the sanctions and warned senior gang members they couldn't hide from justice forever.

The Irish High Court named Mr Kinahan as the controller and manager of the gang and his father as a convicted drug trafficker.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency has a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of any of the Kinahans.

All of them will have their US credit and debit cards blocked and any money they have in US banks frozen. Access to their property will be restricted.

During Ireland's Celtic Tiger period of high economic growth from the 1990s to 2007, there was a rise in the Kinahan Cartel. According to Irish media, it has a virtual monopoly on the import of cocaine into Europe and controls a third of the drug trade on the continent.

The group has been involved in a bloody war with the Hutch gang in Dublin and Spain, resulting in at least 18 deaths. The Kinahan gang was referred to as a murderous organization by the Treasury department.

Daniel Kinahan is a well-known figure in boxing circles. A number of boxing's top fighters are represented by the MTK Global agency, which he co-founded. The company's founder, Mr Kinahan, says he cut ties with the company.

Image source, Getty Images

Last year, Mr Kinahan was thanked for arranging a high-profile bout with then world champion Anthony Joshua, by the man himself.

A few weeks ago, Mr Kinahan was photographed with Fury.

Josh Taylor is one of the boxers represented by MTK Global.

Taylor once described Mr Kinahan as a great advisor, who is doing great things for the sport of boxing. Josh Taylor and his team have been contacted by the BBC.

Boxing chiefs have defended Mr Kinahan despite his links to the drug trade.

The Irishman was offered his full backing by the World Boxing Council President after a meeting.

The Assistant Commissioner of Ireland's Police Force John O'Driscoll told reporters at a news conference in Dublin that Mr Kinahan's influence was destroying or attempting to destroy a sport that is so important to inner city.