Photo used for illustrative purpose.

The UAE has frozen the assets of the Kinahan drug trafficking gang, adding to international pressure on an organisation that has deep ties with boxers and promoters at the highest levels of the sport, the Financial Times (FT) said.

The UAE authorities were continuing to investigate the Irish organised crime group in parallel with authorities in the US, UK, Ireland and Spain, the FT added.

“The relevant authorities co-operate closely on cases involving foreign elements, in line with the UAE’s international commitments and national legal framework for combating illicit activity,” the FT said, adding that the asset freeze includes all personal and corporate bank accounts.

The announcement of the asset freeze on one of Europe’s most notorious crime syndicates comes after the US Treasury last week imposed sanctions on the Kinahan group and seven of its members including Christopher Kinahan and his two sons, Daniel and Christopher Jr.