In a revelation that raises questions about the efficacy of international sanctions, an investigation by “Dubai Unlocked” has uncovered property transactions in Dubai by Caoimhe Robinson, wife of accused drug kingpin Daniel Kinahan, even as he faces U.S. sanctions for alleged international drug smuggling and money laundering.
The Kinahan Cartel
The Kinahan Cartel is a notorious Irish organized crime group involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and other illicit activities. The cartel, led by Christy Kinahan Sr. and his son Daniel Kinahan, has been linked to numerous criminal activities in Ireland and internationally. They are known for their involvement in the global drug trade, particularly in trafficking cocaine. The cartel has been involved in a violent feud with the Hutch crime family, leading to several deaths in Ireland. The Kinahan Cartel’s activities have attracted significant attention from law enforcement agencies and the media, highlighting the impact of organized crime on society.
Dubai Unlocked Reveals Properties
In 2023, Caoimhe Robinson purchased a 20,569-square-foot villa, still under construction, for approximately $2.1 million in an upscale section of Dubai, close to Zayed University. The elegant Mediterranean-style villa, though unfinished, exudes luxury, reflecting the sophistication of its surroundings, described by one real estate website as “a true lifestyle destination.”
This villa is just one part of Robinson and Kinahan’s property portfolio in Dubai, highlighting the ease with which individuals under sanctions can still manoeuvre assets. Despite the sanctions imposed by the U.S. in 2022 on Daniel Kinahan, his father, Christopher Kinahan, his brother, Christopher Kinahan Jr., and several associates, the couple continued their property dealings in Dubai.
Dubai Unlocked report underscores the fact that Dubai has become a haven for suspected crime bosses due to the UAE’s opaque financial system and the absence of extradition treaties, allowing individuals to evade sanctions and legal consequences. Robinson’s property transactions shed light on how easily individuals can bypass sanctions in such jurisdictions.
Robinson’s Property Transactions
An analysis of leaked property records and Dubai land records reveals that as recently as 2022, Kinahan and his wife were listed as the owners of a combined total of four properties in Dubai. Robinson herself sold at least one property a few months ago.
In February, Robinson sold a luxury four-bedroom apartment in the Elite Residences skyscraper, overlooking Dubai Marina, for $1 million.
Additionally, Robinson’s name appears in property data as the controlling party of two other properties: a villa in the Parkway Vistas development and another villa in the elite Emirates Hills neighbourhood. While these properties were sold in 2022 and 2023 respectively, independent verification of her ownership was not possible.
Dubai Unlocked Reveals Legal Disputes
In its report, Dubai Unveiled revealed legal disputes associated with the Irish Drug Cartel. Robinson faced legal battles to retain ownership of her properties. The Mediterranean-style villa purchased in 2023 was seized shortly after her acquisition. However, Robinson contested the seizure, and the property was reinstated under her ownership, with Robinson also awarded approximately $500,000 in compensation.
Similarly, Daniel Kinahan encountered a dispute over an office he purchased in 2017. Located in the Jumeirah Bay X3 Tower, the office overlooks the Dubai skyline. However, a rental dispute and overdue service charges of $16,784 blocked Kinahan from selling the office in November 2023.
The Dubai Unlocked report also mentions that real estate market provides an ideal environment for money laundering. Criminal organizations like the Kinahan cartel use real estate transactions to launder illicit funds, taking advantage of the lack of transparency and regulation in the market.
The Kinahan cartel’s operations in Dublin have been linked to at least 20 killings in Europe, according to Europol. The cartel has set up hundreds of companies, many reportedly in the food and real estate industries, to hide and move huge quantities of cash made from selling drugs.
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By purchasing high-value properties through shell companies or third parties, criminals can conceal the origins of their wealth and integrate illicit funds into the legitimate economy.
Effectiveness of Sanctions
In response to U.S. sanctions, UAE authorities took measures to freeze Kinahan’s assets and blocked the sale of properties owned by Kinahan family members and sanctioned companies. However, a significant gap in the sanctions became apparent: they did not include spouses and partners of the sanctioned individuals. This omission undermined the effectiveness of the sanctions, allowing individuals like Caoimhe Robinson to continue their property dealings in Dubai.
While Kinahan’s assets were frozen, his wife, Caoimhe Robinson, continued to buy and sell properties in Dubai, effectively circumventing the sanctions. This loophole in the sanctions regime allowed the Kinahan cartel to maintain control over significant assets, rendering the sanctions less impactful than intended.
Dubai Unlocked Investigation
Robinson’s property transactions were uncovered as part of Dubai Unlocked, a six-month investigation into Dubai’s booming and secretive property market. Led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in collaboration with over 70 media partners, including ICIJ and The Irish Times, the investigation exposes how oligarchs and criminals have acquired real estate in exclusive Middle Eastern neighbourhoods.
Based on newly leaked property records from January 2022, the investigation reveals the extent of property ownership by individuals under international scrutiny.
