UN'S ANALYSIS SHOWS Harms around the world...

Kinahan cartel active in 22 count at height of their power, says rep

- BY MICHAEL O'TOOLE Crime and Defence Editor

THE Kinahan cartel was active in more than 20 countries at the height of its power, a United Nations report says.

The analysis, by its Office on Drugs and Crime, revealed the cartel had a presence in countries from China in the east to Panama in the west.

The report found the €1.5billion drugs network had branches in 22 countries when the first international crackdown against it took place in 2010.

That was five years before it began a murderous feud when its gunmen killed Gary Hutch on Spain's Costa Del Sol the start of a war that left 18 men dead.

It was also before boss Daniel Kinahan, his brother Christopher, 44, and father Christy, 67, moved to Dubai to escape gardai and other European police forces at the height of its onslaught against the Hutch gang.

The undated report is an analysis of Operation Shovel, which saw gardai, Spanish cops and other EU police forces launch a coordinated series of raids and investigations into the gang - which even then was one of Europe's biggest drugs outfits.

The three Kinahans were all arrested in the Estepona area of southern Spain during the dramatic raids in May 2010, in which more than 30 people were detained.

They were detained for several months before being released on bail.

The two sons have been informed that they are not to face any criminal charges, but around five people including Christy, who led the gang at the time, are still in the Spanish judicial system - even though they were targeted 15 years ago.

CHARGES

Christy has been indicted on false passport charges, which could mean a jail term of four years if he ever returns to Spain.

The UNODC report says Operation Shovel began in 2006 and does not refer to the Kinahans by name - but calls them a "well-known family clan."