The US government has offered a $5million bounty for information leading to the arrest of the alleged cartel boss Daniel Kinahan, who has previously advised Tyson Fury and has become one of the most influential figures in boxing.
In a major escalation that ought to send a shockwave through the sport, the US Treasury announced sanctions against seven members of the Kinahan organised crime group on the grounds of international drug smuggling and money laundering.
Dubai-based Daniel Kinahan was directly named by the US Treasury, who said in a statement that he is ‘believed to run the day-to-day operations of the organisation’.
Kinahan was pictured recently with Fury, who defends his WBC heavyweight world title against Dillian Whyte at Wembley on April 23.
Fury, along with multiple figures in boxing, including flyweight world champion Sunny Edwards, has previously gone to lengths to sing the praises of a figure who has also been named in the Irish High Court as the controller and manager of the gang.
MTK Global, who represent Fury, have been asked by Sportsmail to clarify if Kinahan still advises the fighter.
The US government will pay $5million to anyone who can help them arrest Daniel Kinahan – who is wanted on the grounds of international drug smuggling and money laundering
Kinahan is a previous advisor to WBC world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury (centre)
Fellow boxers Billy Joe Saunders (left) and Sunny Edwards both have links to Kinahan too
On the back of Tuesday’s sanctions, the Irish police commissioner Drew Harris said in a press conference: ‘What was implicit before, and what some individuals could choose to ignore, is absolutely explicit — if you deal with the individuals who are sanctioned as part of the Kinahan organised crime gang, you are dealing with criminals engaged in drug trafficking. And, indeed, as we have seen here very tragically in Ireland and also in Spain, murderous feuds who will resort to vicious actions up to and including murder.’
When asked about Kinahan’s links to sport, Harris said: ‘If you deal with these individuals who have been sanctioned, or these entities who are being sanctioned, you are involved in a criminal network.’
There is no suggestion of criminality by any of the fighters advised by Kinahan.
BT Sport, who will broadcast Fury’s fight with Whyte, maintain they have had no links to Kinahan. It is understood they insert ‘anti-corruption’ clauses in their contracts with promoters.
The involvement of the US authorities will bring immense scrutiny to the sport, which has long stood accused of turning a blind eye to serious accusations around Kinahan.
Just last month, the president of the World Boxing Council organisation, Mauricio Sulaiman declared his ‘full support’ for Kinahan, who was one of the co-founders of the vast MTK management group, though he claims he severed ties in 2017.
He has since operated as an ‘advisor’ to many of the biggest names in the sport, including Fury and Billy Joe Saunders. Fury, who will face renewed questions about his relationship to Kinahan ahead of the fight with Whyte, paid a gushing tribute to the Irishman last year for his role in attempting to broker a showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Fury defends his WBC heavyweight world title against Dillian Whyte at Wembley on April 23
Gregory Gatjanis from the US Treasury said: ‘Today, the Kinahans join the ranks of the Camorra [Italian mafia organisation] and Japan’s yakuza.’
A treasury statement added: ‘The KOCG, which operates in Ireland and is also established in the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates, was designated as a significant transnational criminal organisation. The KOCG emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the most powerful organized crime group operating in Ireland.
‘Since then, Irish courts have concluded that the KOCG is a murderous organisation involved in the international trafficking of drugs and firearms.’
Under the sanctions, any money held in US banks by the seven men, who include Kinahan’s father Christopher Snr – a convicted drug trafficker – and his brother Christopher Jnr, will be frozen and access to their property restricted.
Daniel Kinahan has previously insisted allegations of criminality are part of a ‘campaign’ against him. Sportsmail has contacted his lawyer for comment.
The US also sanctioned three businesses linked to the gang, including the UAE-based Hoopoe Sports, whose website lists five boxers as clients: Paddy Barnes, Jamie Conlan, Michael Conlan, Hughie Fury, and Billy Joe Saunders.
The US Department of State has said they are offering the $5m reward for information ‘leading to the financial disruption’ of the Kinahan transnational group, or the arrest and conviction of its leaders.
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