Issue Date: 21/04/2026
Speaking today, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said:
"The arrest of an Irish national in Dubai last week is the result of a significant Garda operation over many years to tackle serious and organised crime.
This was built on Gardaí, during that time and the present, undertaking painstaking and difficult investigative work that has saved lives, put serious criminals behind bars, and hugely undermined the senior leadership of several organised crime gangs.
At the same time, senior Gardaí including the late John O’Driscoll and former Commissioner Drew Harris helped build international law enforcement coalitions to tackle these transnational gangs. This has included visits to the US, Dubai, and Colombia with law enforcement agencies in those countries also visiting Ireland. I want to particularly commend the work of DOCB personnel.
I know from my own experience of meeting our police colleagues in Colombia and Dubai how such visits forge and strengthen working relationships between law enforcement partners.
In September 2023, former Commissioner Harris and I travelled to the UAE and met with the Chief of Dubai Police Lt. General Abdullah Khalifa al-Marri, and I was delighted to speak to Lt. General al- Marri last Friday in relation to the arrest.
This work resulted in an international coalition including An Garda Síochána, the US Treasury Department, US Homeland Security, the DEA, FBI, the UK’s National Crime Agency and Europol coming together four years ago to disrupt and dismantle the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang. This work was supported by the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs.
In addition, in recent years, An Garda Síochána has expanded its own network of international liaison officers working abroad who have helped build and strengthen relationships with law enforcement agencies in the US, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
As An Garda Síochána said four years ago at the media briefing in Dublin, the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang have spread misery and death not only in Ireland, but in many other countries across the world. They engage in drug dealing, human trafficking, and murder.
That is why dismantling such gangs not only protects Irish people, but people around the world too.
I want to thank all the Gardaí at all ranks, both serving and retired, who have contributed to this incredible work that keeps people safe here and abroad".
