The extradition of Daniel Kinahan from Dubai to Ireland is just the latest evidence of the vital role of international co-operation in pursuing organised crime charges. By their nature, major criminal gangs operate across state borders and their members base themselves in a variety of countries. Kinahan has been charged with directing an organised crime group and it may be some time before a trial takes place. He remains innocent in the eyes of the law unless proven otherwise. He was brought last night to Portlaoise Prison as a remand prisoner.Following the Regency hotel shooting in 2016, which set off a major feud between the Kinahan and Hutch gangs, Garda activity has been stepped up. Their operations and those of other gangs have been subject to lengthy investigation and pursuit in Ireland. From a situation where, for some years, there were regular gangland shootings, there are now few. While the Garda faced criticism and challenges in the wake of the Regency shooting and its deadly aftermath, a lot has been achieved in the interim.In tandem, efforts to seek international co-operation were stepped up. Following coordination between the Garda, Europol and the US authorities, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned seven members of the Kinahan cartel in 2022, restricting their ability to hold assets in the US and sending a significant international message. The US offered a reward of up to $5 million each for any information which led to the arrest or conviction of three senior members of the Kinahan organisation.Then, last year, Sean McGovern, a senior member of the Kinahan gang, was extradited from the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this year he was sentenced to 24 years in prison, following conviction on two separate charges.A vital agreement formalising extradition procedures between Ireland and the UAE was signed in October 2024. The weekend reaction by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, thanking the UAE authorities, shows how effectively this has worked. Credit is also due to senior gardaí for their work on the extradition process.Building international co-operation is a long process requiring effort and resources but it is, ultimately, worth it.For example, gardaí and the Spanish authorities last year engaged in a joint operation to target the activities of another gang, known as The Family, believed to be a major supplier of drugs to the Irish market, an enterprise which will have blighted many lives. The fight against organised crime will never end, but progress over the past couple of years has been both significant and encouraging.