Irish Government considering offering reward for information on the Kinahan gang
"We want to do everything we possibly can."
Micheál Martin has said that the Irish Government may consider providing a reward to anyone with information surrounding the Kinahan gang.
The Taoiseach made the comments at a launch of a new report from the National Economic and Social Council on Tuesday (12 April).
Martin was responding to questions surrounding the $5 million reward the US Government had offered to anyone with information that would lead to the financial disruption or arrests with the leaders of the Kinahan gang.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed 'very significant' US sanctions on the Kinahan organised crime gang.
He added that the Government will consider offering a reward for information on the gang and its leaders | Read more: https://t.co/7qwXOvkAvJ pic.twitter.com/6cn5gd3lLU— RTÉ News (@rtenews) April 12, 2022
"I think it's very significant and I welcome this," the Taoiseach said.
"I do believe that we have to work internationally and collaborate with other authorities in respect of these issues.
"We want to do everything we possibly can to deal with criminality in our country.
"Increasingly, we know that it's through international collaboration, states working together, because crime crosses borders now, and therefore, we would discuss that with my Government colleagues and certainly we would keep an issue like that under review.
"We do have the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) which was an initiative we took many, many years ago following the murder of Veronica Guerin, and that has been impactful in relation to the issue."
The $5 million reward was announced by US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin on Tuesday morning.
@StateDept Reward of up to $5,000,000.00 USD for information leading to the Financial Disruption of the Kinahan Criminal Organisation or the arrest and/or conviction of:
Daniel Kinahan
Christy Kinahan Sr
Christy Kinahan Jr
Submit Tips via email to KinahanTCOTips@dea.gov pic.twitter.com/IkyLsqIGDN— Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a range of sanctions on the Kinahan Organised Crime Group on Tuesday morning.
"The Kinahan Organised Crime Group smuggles deadly narcotics, including cocaine, to Europe, and is a threat to the entire licit economy through its role in international money laundering," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E Nelson.
"Criminal groups like the KOCG prey on the most vulnerable in society and bring drug-related crime and violence, including murder, to the countries in which they operate.
"Treasury is proud to have coordinated so closely with our international counterparts, and the US government will continue to use every available resource to dismantle these criminal networks."
