Photographs have emerged showing Daniel Kinahan and his father, Christy Kinahan, at a mixed martial arts event in Dubai, despite the substantial $15 million bounty placed on their heads by the United States government. This sighting, captured in June 2025, comes shortly after the extradition of Sean McGovern, a lieutenant of the Kinahan cartel, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Ireland, where he faces serious charges including murder.
The footage, filmed during the 971 Fighting Championship at the Coca-Cola Arena, indicates that the Kinahan cartel’s senior members remain active in Dubai, a city they relocated to in 2016 after fleeing from Spain. The US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on the Kinahan cartel in 2022, prohibiting financial institutions from engaging with the family or their associates. Nonetheless, the recent footage raises questions about the effectiveness of these sanctions.
The cartel’s leadership, consisting of Christy Kinahan (68), Daniel Kinahan (48), and Christopher Kinahan Jr. (45), is wanted by authorities globally. Their activities have earned them a notorious reputation, with investigations linking them to drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and money laundering operations worth an estimated €1.5 billion. The cartel’s connections even extend to Iran’s intelligence services and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Bellingcat, in collaboration with The Sunday Times, made significant strides in identifying the cartel leaders. Through a facial recognition search engine called PimEyes, they matched a social media photo of one of Daniel Kinahan‘s sons to a professional photograph taken at the MMA event. Following this, further footage confirmed that Christy Kinahan was also present, described as wearing a distinctive Panama hat and blue attire.
Evidence of Continued Operations
The presence of Christy Kinahan at the MMA event is notable as it represents one of the longest public appearances since the imposition of US sanctions. Observers noted that he was visible throughout the live-streamed event, a departure from his typical discreet lifestyle. This event attracted around 6,000 spectators, and Kinahan was seen engaged in conversation with Mounir Lazzez, the event’s founder and a former UFC athlete, further highlighting his connections within the combat sports community.
Despite the UAE’s claims of taking action against the Kinahan cartel, this sighting suggests that sanctions have not significantly impacted their operations. The UAE authorities have allegedly frozen €200 million in assets linked to the cartel but the continued presence of the Kinahans in public raises concerns about the effectiveness of these measures.
The extradition treaty between Ireland and the UAE, ratified in 2025, has only been enforced in the case of Sean McGovern so far. Irish authorities, including Detective Chief Superintendent Séamus Boland, have indicated that investigations into the Kinahan cartel will continue. Boland expressed optimism that 2026 would be a pivotal year, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the violent Regency Hotel attack, which marked the beginning of a significant gangland feud.
While the Kinahans have maintained a luxurious lifestyle in Dubai, their visibility at high-profile events raises important questions about law enforcement efforts. The findings from Bellingcat and The Sunday Times indicate that the Kinahan cartel may not only be surviving but potentially thriving in the wake of international sanctions.
In conclusion, the recent footage of the Kinahan leaders illustrates the ongoing complexities of combating organized crime on a global scale. As investigations continue, the authorities face the challenge of dismantling a network that has proven resilient in the face of international scrutiny.
