ONLY a fortnight ago no less a figure from the boxing world than Mauricio Sulaiman, the head of the WBC, one of the major sanctioning bodies in the sport, was praising Daniel Kinahan for his involvement in boxing. Now Kinahan has been sanctioned by the United States Treasury department.
Daniel Kinahan is one of seven people now designated for sanctions by the US government.
“The Kinahan Organized 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,” Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson stated. “Criminal groups like the [Kinahan Organized Crime Group] 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 U.S. government will continue to use every available resource to dismantle these criminal networks.”
Kinahan has been acknowledged previously by high profile fighters like Tyson Fury and many others in boxing. But now this is a significant step for law enforcement agencies to take and how the sport reacts to it will come under further, intense scrutiny.
Read more: Kinahan and boxing – The elephant’s out the room.
Listen: Podcast – The reception of Kinahan and what it means for boxing