Sean McGovern faces extradition from the United Arab Emirates

An extradition process is underway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to bring one of the suspected most senior members of the Kinahan organized crime gang back to the Republic of Ireland, global police agency Interpol said.

Sean McGovern was arrested by police in Dubai on Thursday after an Interpol Red Notice was issued in collaboration between Irish and UAE authorities.

The 38-year-old is wanted for, among other things, murder and leading an organized crime group.

Interpol described Mr McGovern as “one of Ireland’s most wanted fugitives”.

On Thursday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris described the arrest as an “important intervention”.

“This has been a very long process and investigation involving international partners for An Garda Síochána,” he told reporters in Cork.

In a statement, gardaí also said they “welcome” the arrest of an Irish national in the United Arab Emirates.

“An Garda Síochána has developed important international partnerships in our efforts to combat transnational organized crime groups,” it said.

“Our relationship with the authorities in the UAE is valued and we will continue to strengthen it.”

The leaders of the Dublin-based Kinahan crime gang are believed to be based in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr McGovern’s extradition is understood to be the first to take place between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland’s Justice Minister Helen McEntee warned: “There is no hiding place” for those involved in organized crime.

“Many organized crime gangs believe they can evade justice by crossing borders; this is not possible,” McEntee said in a statement.

“There should be nowhere in the world for criminals to hide.”

McEntee said she was working “intensively” with her counterpart in the United Arab Emirates to deepen criminal law relations between the two countries.

She added that “good progress” was being made in negotiations between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates on bilateral treaties and mutual legal assistance.

Last October, Commissioner Harris met senior UAE police officers in Dublin as part of an international investigation into the Kinahan gang.

The delegation’s visit came a day after Justice Minister Helen McEntee discussed the possibility of a bilateral extradition treaty with her UAE counterpart.

The previous month, Commissioner Harris met with authorities in Dubai Discuss ways to combat cross-border crime.

The Kinahans belong to Ireland richest, most powerful and most ruthless criminal gang.

It was founded by Christy Kinahan Sr., but day-to-day operations are now believed to be controlled by sons Daniel and Christopher Jr. in particular.

According to the National Crime Agency, the group has been responsible for importing tonnes of drugs and firearms worldwide for more than 20 years.

Previously the US Treasury Department described the Kinahan cartel as one of the most dangerous in the worldcomparable to criminal organizations such as the Italian Camorra, the Mexican Los Zetas and the Japanese Yakuza.

The gang is estimated to have earned more than €1 billion (£852,629,000) from its activities worldwide, according to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

In April 2022, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a $5 million (£3.8 million) reward for the arrest of the three men.

On Sunday, suspected Kinahan gang member Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, reported was arrested in Spain on suspicion of firearms offenses after an arrest warrant was issued by the United Kingdom.