The United Arab Emirates extradited alleged Irish organised crime leader Daniel Kinahan to Ireland on Sunday, where the 49-year-old is expected to face charges linked to directing a transnational criminal organisation.
Kinahan departed Dubai aboard an Irish government aircraft following a final ruling by the Dubai Court of Cassation, according to a joint statement from the Emirati and Irish justice ministers.
His extradition was carried out under an extradition treaty between the two countries after his arrest in Dubai in April on an Irish warrant alleging serious organised crime offences.
Kinahan is expected to be brought directly to Dublin's Special Criminal Court, which handles organised crime and terrorism cases and hears proceedings before three judges without a jury.
Irish media reported that armed police, military personnel and prison authorities were involved in a major security operation surrounding his return.
He is then expected to be transferred to the high-security Portlaoise Prison.
Kinahan is the second senior figure linked to the organisation to be extradited from Dubai, following Sean McGovern, who was sentenced in June to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to directing organised crime and attempted murder.
The United States identified Kinahan in 2022 as one of three leaders of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group and imposed sanctions on him, other family members and associated entities.
US and European authorities have linked the organisation to drug trafficking, money laundering, firearms trafficking and murder, while investigators have pursued its members across Ireland, Britain, Spain and the United States.
US authorities also offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrests of Kinahan and other senior figures.
Authorities allege Kinahan managed the group's operations from Dubai, including cocaine purchases from South America and distribution activities involving Ireland and Britain.
The organisation has also been linked to a violent feud with the rival Hutch gang in Ireland and Spain.
Kinahan has previously denied allegations that he is a crime boss, and a lawyer representing him said in 2021 that the allegations were false and that he had no criminal record or convictions.