Gangsters Paradise: Why do so many British mobsters flee to Dubai?

Release time：2024-05-08 09:12:34 Source：Earthly Echo news portal

A generation of British gangsters have made Dubai the new Marbella thanks to the protection provided to them by local elites, it has been claimed by a legal expert.

Criminals from Dublin to Dundee have all flocked to Dubai over the last decade, often posing for selfie-type photographs drenched in designer gear and jewellery.

The leaders of the Kinahan crime cartel are said to be based in Dubai, where they appear to be beyond the reach of Irish police and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The Sunday Times recently reported that Christy Kinahan senior, one of the world's most wanted men, was living freely in Dubai and renewed his ID card in November 2021.

The US treasury department's Office of Foreign Assets Control and Drug Enforcement Administration, Ireland's Garda Siochana, the UK's National Crime Agency and Europol launched sanctions and a $5 million bounty on the Kinahans in April 2022.

A legal expert told MailOnline that many British criminals were attracted to Dubai for one reason specific reason.

A generation of British gangsters have made Dubai the new Marbella thanks to the protection provided to them by local elites (Stock image)

Christy Kinahan senior, one of the world's most wanted men, is reportedly living freely in Dubai and renewed his ID card in November 2021.

U.S. authorities said Daniel Kinahan lives on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah artificial islands, which often attracts films stars, footballers and the occasional oligarch

He said: 'I am hearing fugitives and people who could be become wanted by the authorities in the UK are there due to a cosy relationship with local elites.

'If a crime agency or police force wish to execute a warrant in the UAE, local officials have to be informed before the warrant is executed. Basically certain criminals will be tipped off about a warrant with their name on.

'This gives them chance to move location for the duration of the warrant. The big fish are protected and always one stop ahead. 

'Let's just say there are some very cosy relationships and money buys influence and local connections.

'Basically all they need to do is check into a hotel for a few days and wait for the fuss to die down.'

This rationale would explain why so many powerful criminals have flocked to Dubai over the last decade or so.

Merseysider Paul Cahoon, a former mixed martial arts fighter, is thought to have headed to Dubai following his implication in a drug conspiracy

Criminals from Dublin to Dundee have all flocked to Dubai over the last decade (Stock image)

Michael Moogan, from Croxeth in Liverpool, was arrested in Dubai after being wanted by police for years

While there have been some high profile arrests, the NCA has enjoyed far more success in Europe than in Dubai.

The Sunday Times and investigate website Bellingcat recently revealed how Chrisy Kinahan senior was a prolific restaurant reviewer, documenting his visits to food and drink spots in Dubai.

One of Mr Kinahan's posts read: 'I visited the Department of Economic Development in the Dubai Mall, 7 November 2021 at about 11:30. I went there to use the interactive machine to update my Emirates ID. 

'The only interaction with the staff that I had was with a security officer, who was most helpful in guiding me to the machine and then advising me on its use. Based on my experience whilst visiting this office I rate this visit 5 star.'

Dubai has also proven to be a lodestar for criminals from Liverpool and Manchester over recent years, in the way Marbella used to pull in East End gangsters from the 70s and 80s.

Merseysider Paul Cahoon, a former mixed martial arts fighter, is thought to have headed to Dubai following his implication in a drug conspiracy. Cahoon, said to be working as a fitness coach in the UAE, has been wanted by the North West Regional Crime Agency for years.

One of the NCA's first big wins in Dubai concerned Leon Cullen, an intermediate level criminal from the Warrington area.

Cullen managed to flee to Dubai as police closed in on the drug gang he headed up with his brother. Detectives were shocked when they discovered the gang had a fully working AK47 and named Cullen a wanted man.

Joshua Avis, who worked for the Cassidy brothers, is now wanted by Greater Manchester Police in relation to drug offences. Avis, from Merseyside, is rumoured to have headed to Dubai last year.

More recently Manchester Crown Court heard how drug boss Jonathan Cassidy fled to Dubai after police hacked the Encrochat network of encrypted phones in the spring of 2020.

A legal expert has explained why so many British criminals are attracted to Dubai

Cullen ended up incarcerated in a notorious UAE prison for months after this arrest. He was eventually returned to the UK and jailed.

Michael Moogan was another notable success for the NCA, after the Liverpool man was arrested in Dubai.

Moogan, from the Croxeth area of the city, had been wanted for years after police raided what appeared to be a tourist cafe in Rotterdam.

The NCA later revealed the cafe was actually a hub for drug cartels to conduct international transactions.

After Moogan was eventually arrested the NCA revealed he had entered the UAE on a false passport.

He was later extradited back to the UK and jailed for drug offences when the court heard how he was a 'Premier League' level dealer.

More recently Manchester Crown Court heard how drug boss Jonathan Cassidy fled to Dubai after police hacked the Encrochat network of encrypted phones in the spring of 2020. 

Cassidy, from north Liverpool, told agents he was looking to spend around £2,000,000 on a villa. He also ordered a bed for around £20,000. For some reason Cassidy chanced a flight back to the UK and was arrested as he walked through passport control.

He was recently jailed for 20 years during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court. His younger brother, Jamie, a former youth player at Liverpool FC, was jailed for 13 years.

Joshua Avis, who worked for the Cassidy brothers, is now wanted by Greater Manchester Police in relation to drug offences. Avis, from Merseyside, is rumoured to have headed to Dubai last year.

Gardai and CAB raid a garage linked to the Kinahan cartel in Bluebell, Dublin

Police arrest one of the seven 'key members' of the Kinahan cartel

Leon Cullen (pictured) managed to flee to Dubai as police closed in on the drug gang he headed up with his brother

However Dubai is more than a safe port for criminals wanted by police and crime agencies in Europe.

The truth is that over recent years the UAE and Dubai in particular has become seen as a crucial hub for international money laundering.

Russian mafia began arriving in the 90s during the years when Mr Bigs made a killing carving up state assets.

This process during the President Boris Yeltsin years created a new generation of so called oligarchs, some of whom were backed up by crime groups.

U.S. authorities said Daniel Kinahan lives on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah artificial islands, which often attracts films stars, footballers and the occasional oligarch.

The US views the UAE as an important ally in the middle east region. However in launching sanctions against the

Kinahans The Treasury Department described Dubai 'as a facilitation hub' for the cartel's 'illicit activities.'

Police sources also suggested broader concerns about Dubai, with the city's gold trade seen by some as linked to international money laundering.

There has been growing concern around corrupt officials in Africa selling off state assets to fund gold trading in Dubai.

The US State Department has said that Zimbabwe was losing U.S. $100 million monthly to gold smuggling.

In October 2020 security officials at Harare International Airport arrested Henrietta Rushwaya, a relative of

President Mnangagwa, when she attempted to smuggle approximately U.S. $300,000 worth of gold to Dubai.

A recent report on organised crime by EUROPOl said: 'Dubai (United Arab Emirates) has emerged as a remote coordination hub where high-level members and other criminal actors, such as brokers and organisers, reside to coordinate the activities of criminal networks and hinder law enforcement detection.'

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