Gang leader Daniel Kinahan has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates and faces extradition back to Ireland.

The crime boss-turned-boxing promoter, who has been hunted by the authorities for years, was arrested on Wednesday on foot of a warrant issued by an Irish court in relation to alleged serious organised crime offences.

The 48-year-old and his father, Christy Kinahan Sr, have been living in Dubai since 2016, when they moved from the Costa Del Sol in Spain following the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel that sparked a brutal and bloody gang war.

A senior Garda source told the Irish Daily Mail Kinahan: 'Had been under close surveillance for two days by Dubai police before they moved in.'

The Mail understands that a local shopping mall and nearby Indian restaurant not far from the Burj Khalifa served as the main hubs for surveillance on Kinahan.

Michael O'Sullivan, former Assistant Garda Commissioner, said the arrest, following the extradition last year of senior Kinahan gang member Seán McGovern, would mean that the sense of sanctuary felt by criminals who fled Europe for the Middle East was 'rapidly being eroded'.

He said: 'A lot of groups stayed out there despite the fact that the Americans were looking for them, and they felt safe and they felt secure.'

However, he said increasing cross-border agreements between authorities are giving police forces a 'greater reach', 'with the result that now they have to be lucky all the time, and law enforcement only have to be lucky once'.

The government of Dubai confirmed in a statement that it had arrested an 'Irish fugitive tied to transnational organised crime network'.

Mr Kinahan has been named by the High Court of Ireland as 'a senior figure in organised crime on a global scale', while the Criminal Assets Bureau identified him as the controller of the Kinahan cartel, which allegedly smuggles guns and drugs into Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe.

The Kinahan cartel has been locked in a murderous feud with the Hutch Gang, which began in 2015, when Gary Hutch was murdered in Marbella, Spain by the Kinahan group.

The ensuing gang war claimed 18 lives over the next three years and brought daylight shootings to the streets of Dublin.

One senior garda told the Mail last night: 'This is a major, major coup. The warrants were obtained in the High Court. 

'The gardaí had gone to the High Court after a decision was made to charge Kinahan in connection with serious organised crime offences.

'The extradition was sought from the High Court here. He was arrested based on the Irish warrants. So, arrest warrants were then issued over there for him… I know the Americans wanted him, too, but it's Ireland he's destined for.'

The source added: 'It was a personal drive from Justin Kelly, who is now the Garda Commissioner – he was previously Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime and never let up in the hunt for the Kinahans.

'Ultimately, though, it was the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, under Detective Chief Superintendent Séamus Boland who must get a lot of the credit for this.

'Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis never gave up the hunt for the Kinahans, either.

'And we cannot forget our former Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll who was instrumental in getting the Americans involved. Sadly, John died shortly after his retirement and didn't get to see Kinahan arrested before he died.'

In a statement last night, An Garda Síochána said it is 'aware of the arrest of an Irish national in the United Arab Emirates'.

It said the arrest was in accordance with a bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and United Arab Emirates.

'The arrest of the Irish National in Dubai remains a matter for the authorities in the United Arab Emirates at this time,' it continued.

'Today's arrest is another extremely important demonstration of the need for international law enforcement co-operation in tackling transnational organised crime.'

The government of Dubai confirmed in a statement that it had, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Interior, 'arrested an Irish fugitive for his alleged role in an international organised crime network'.

'The arrest comes as part of efforts to combat cross-border crime,' it said,

It continued: 'The arrest followed the receipt of a judicial file from Irish authorities detailing the suspect's alleged crimes and his involvement in an international criminal organisation. 

'Based on the file, Dubai Public Prosecution issued an arrest warrant to initiate legal procedures ahead of his extradition.

'Specialised teams immediately launched intensive search and surveillance operations, leading to the suspect's capture within 48 hours of the warrant being issued. 

'Dubai Police confirmed that the arrest took place on April 15, reflecting the force's rapid response and operational readiness in handling international cases.'

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said he welcomed the arrest, which 'follows my request to the UAE for extradition of this individual to face charges in Ireland'.

He continued: 'I would like to commend all involved in today's development, which is the result of tireless work by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, officials in the Department of Justice with their UAE counterparts, the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies.'