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Ireland has signed an extradition treaty with the UAE, tightening the net on the notorious Kinahan criminal gang just over a week after one of its top lieutenants was arrested in Dubai.

Ireland’s justice minister Helen McEntee on Monday signed two treaties in Abu Dhabi with her counterpart Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad al Nuaimi, after more than two years of diplomatic efforts. Ireland said the agreements “represent a crucial step in intensifying the combined fight” against organised crime.

Led by Daniel Kinahan, the biggest European drug lord still at large, the Irish crime family is a key player in the Dubai-based “super cartel” estimated to have supplied a third of Europe’s cocaine.

Other “super cartel” kingpins, including the Netherlands’ Ridouan Taghi and Italy’s Raffaele Imperiale, have been extradited and sentenced in their home countries. The lack of such a bilateral treaty with the UAE meant no such avenue had been open to Ireland.

“It’s a big step in the right direction,” said Michael O’Sullivan, former assistant commissioner for the Garda, the Irish police force, in charge of national crime and security intelligence services. “It does look like they’re getting all their ducks lined up.”

O’Sullivan said he imagined the Kinahans “will now be looking for another safe haven somewhere else”.

The Ireland-UAE treaties were signed as senior Kinahan cartel members Liam Byrne and Thomas “Bomber” Kavanagh — considered top bosses of the group’s UK and Irish operations — awaited sentencing at the Old Bailey in London on firearms charges. Both have pleaded guilty.

This month, Dubai authorities arrested Sean McGovern, believed to be the right-hand man of Daniel Kinahan, who has been holed up in the Gulf city-state for years. McGovern, described by Interpol as “one of Ireland’s most wanted fugitives”, is being sought by the Irish on murder charges.

O’Sullivan said Ireland would now have to formally request McGovern’s extradition, adding: “I’d be surprised if he didn’t contest it. He’ll fight tooth and nail.” Experts believe his trial would put key information about the Kinahans’ operations in the public domain.

Ireland’s director of public prosecutions declined to comment on whether it would bring charges against Daniel Kinahan. It has been reviewing a Garda file on him for more than a year. The UAE has already frozen the gang’s assets.

Expats have reported sightings of the Kinahans in Dubai but concrete details of whether they remained there were not known.

Garda commissioner Drew Harris has urged Kinahan associates to break with the gang and co-operate with authorities to capture their boss. “They should look about them, they should see what is happening here and they should remember that there is $15mn with US federal law enforcement and the US federal witness protection scheme open, and they should consider that . . . given the progress . . . we are making to the Kinahan organised crime gang.”

The US is offering rewards of $5mn each for information leading to the arrests of Daniel Kinahan and of his father Christy Sr and brother Christopher.

People briefed on the UAE’s position said that if presented with an arrest warrant with detailed charges by Ireland, the UAE was likely to start extradition proceedings through the local courts. Enhanced co-operation on law enforcement was one of the means through which the UAE demonstrated enhanced compliance with financial regulations that led to the country’s removal earlier this year from a watch list of international money-laundering destinations.

At their peak, the Kinahans appeared untouchable — with their illicit activities spawning “mind-boggling” wealth, according to a top detective.

Daniel Kinahan inherited the cartel from his father and cultivated ties to professional boxing alongside his drug operations.

RACHEL Reeves will hit 1.5million pensioners in the pocket by freezing income tax thresholds at the Budget, experts fear.

The move risks them being dragged into higher tax bands, as the state pension is set to rise.

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It will be a fresh blow to retirees, many of whom have been stung by the Chancellor’s axing universal winter fuel cash.

Jon Greer, from finance firm Quilter, said: “The triple lock may increase state pensions but, with tax thresholds frozen, many will find themselves paying taxes on what should be a lifeline.

“For those with state and private pensions, the hit will be felt sooner, eroding their incomes at a time when financial security is crucial.”

Thresholds were fixed by the Tories until 2028 but Ms Reeves is thought likely to extend the freeze.

Meanwhile, she has been pressed to find money to help support struggling town halls — as one in four councils expect to, in effect, go bust in the next two years.

One in ten council heads say they have considered asking the Government for support.

The body’s Labour chairwoman Louise Gittins described the current financial crisis as “extraordinary” ahead of their annual rally in Harrogate, north Yorkshire, from today.

She said: “The autumn Budget must provide councils with the financial stability they need to protect the services our communities rely on every day.”

AN English village is often overlooked by a famous seaside resort nearby – and locals want to keep it that way.

Felpham is right next to Bognor Regis.

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But Felpham has its own place in history, being where the poet William Blake lived.

He once called Felpham the “sweetest spot on earth” as well as saying: “Away to sweet Felpham, for heaven is there.”

Despite being a small village, it has a long beach with both sand and shingle.

People have raved about the “lovely” beach, which has a long promenade next to it as well.

One wrote: “Great time just sitting watching the boats, brings back memories of when we used to go crabbing when the kids were a lot smaller.”

Another called it their “favourite local beach”.

The Boat House cafe on the beach is also popular with visitors as well as dog-walkers in the winter months.

But Felpham is lesser-visited and locals might want to keep it that way.

The Felpham website states: “Felpham is a secret we like to keep to ourselves.

“Why would we want to share our beautiful beaches and parks, our great pubs, restaurants, hotels and shops and so much more?”

However, they added: “I guess we have to let others know how lucky we are. Just make sure you don’t spoil it please.”

While there are no celebs who call it home, there are a number of famous faces who have backed the village.

Bill Nighy recently visited to support a local campaign to keep Felpham’s Post Office open.

And Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is a patron of The Blake Cottage Trust, which protects William Blake’s home.

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Despite being a small village, there are a number of pubs, restaurants and hotels to choose from.

There is The George Inn, The Thatched House and The Fox Inn, all within walking distance of each other.

Otherwise the beachfront The Lobster Pot has both sea views and seafood on offer.

And of course, a seaside village is nothing without a fish and chip shops, with the Felpham Chippy highly rated.

You won’t find any major hotel chains in Felpham – unless you head over to Bognor Regis – although there are B&Bs as well as the seafront Beachcroft Hotel, with rooms and beach huts to stay in.

Still want to go to Bognor Regis? Here is the new £15million attraction opening at the town’s Butlin’s.

And one mum has been visiting Butlin’s for 40 years – here’s how she thinks it has changed.

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‘Doom loop’

BRITISH health tech firm Zoe, championed by celebrities including Davina McCall, has launched a second round of layoffs in six months.

Last year Zoe was deemed one of the fastest-growing firms in the country as health fans signed up to wear its bright yellow blood sugar sensors on their arms.

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However, in April the firm admitted that it had overexpanded its workforce and had to cut costs by 20 per cent.

The Sun can reveal it is now making further job cuts while insiders claim sales are faltering.

Sources said staff had been told via a video call there had to be further changes and redundancies were required.

A consultation with staff is now ongoing, a legal requirement for companies making cuts of more than 20 people. It has refused to confirm the scale of the job cuts.

One worker said: “There is a terrible atmosphere.

“Everyone is scared and we don’t know whether we will have jobs at the end of this four-week window. It’s just looming over us.”

Co-founder Professor Tim Spector, who started the firm seven years ago, has been credited for pushing public awareness about “gut health”.

Zoe’s cheapest starter package costs £299 and charges users a further £25 a month for recipe guides and diet tips.

The brand has a deal with Marks & Spencer to produce mini “gut shots” of fermented milk for £2 and also a cereal range with Waitrose.

The business raised £11.5million in July to fund its expansion.

The firm said: “We are restructuring our teams to continue on our ambitious mission of transforming the health of millions.

“We are dedicated to keeping our employees engaged and informed in the coming weeks.”

A RECORD HIGH FOR UK MUSIC

RAYE, Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran helped push the value of British music exports to a record high of £775million last year.

However, intense competition from artists from Latin America and South Korea is biting into business, figures from British music industry body the BPI show.

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Last year’s 7.6 per cent rise in exports was just half the 2022 rate of growth, it said.

Britain accounts for about 10 per cent of global music streaming, with timeless tunes from the likes of Elton John, The Beatles and Queen still proving popular.

BPI chief executive Jo Twist said: “It is encouraging — but we can and must do even better in the face of fierce global competition.”

CELEBS’ AD QUIZ

TWENTY social media influencers are being quizzed under caution by the City watchdog about their illegal promotion of financial products.

The Financial Conduct Authority said there had been a rise in so-called “finfluencers”, who promote foreign currency exchanges, crypto and complex trading to users.

The FCA says they are not authorised or qualified to give financial advice.

It charged nine stars this year, including Love Island’s Eva Zapico and Towie’s Lauren Goodger, for plugging dodgy investments on social media.

TEN-PIN’S A WIN

HOLLYWOOD BOWL is striking record levels of cash after tempting ten-pin fans to spend more on its snacks, drinks, and arcade games.

The bowling alley chain, which has 72 locations in the UK and 13 in Canada, saw a 7.2 per cent rise in annual revenues to £230.4million.

UK sales rose by 4 per cent to £200million, but were flat once new openings were stripped out.

The firm has benefited from families looking for low-cost indoor entertainment in the unpredictable weather.

RATES CAUTION

ONE of the Bank of England’s rate-setters says she favours a “cautious” approach to lowering interest rates, despite some economists’ predictions of hefty rate cuts next year.

Megan Greene wrote in the Financial Times yesterday she was concerned about rushing into a rate-cutting cycle and cautioned a consumer recovery “could take much longer”.

It comes as many still have to refinance their mortgages at higher rates than before.

Goldman Sachs yesterday said rates could fall to 2.75 per cent by next November.

V.W. £27M TAB FOR CAR HELL

VOLKSWAGEN has been fined £5.4million for its unfair treatment of vulnerable customers, and told to pay £21.5million in compensation.

The Financial Conduct Authority found nearly 110,000 customers who suffered due to “serious failings” by the German car giant’s finance arm over six years.

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A probe by the watchdog revealed VW took cars away from vulnerable customers who were struggling to keep up with payments, without considering other options.

It also charged them the extra costs of repossessing their car, even when customers said they had no means to pay.

In one case, the firm took back the vehicle from someone with depression and who had previously attempted suicide, despite telling VW they needed the car for work.

The watchdog’s Therese Chambers said: “Volkswagen Finance made tough personal situations worse.

“The fine and redress should send clear signals to lenders they need to properly support those in financial difficulty.”

AXE SHOP TAX PLEA

MORE than 300 business leaders have called the UK’s tourist tax a “spectacular own goal” and urged the Chancellor to scrap it in the Budget.

Bosses at Mulberry, John Lewis and Shakespeare’s Globe wrote to Rachel Reeves to argue the UK is at a “global disadvantage” as the only country in Europe not to offer tax-free shopping to overseas visitors.

The tax is costing the economy £11.1billion, analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research says.

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Last December, a gigantic monogrammed Louis Vuitton trunk descended upon the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The structure, a façade concealing the development of a new Louis Vuitton hotel, was instantly recognisable. Trunks were the original Vuitton product and, more than 150 years after Louis Vuitton founded his label in 1854, they remain the most iconic expression of the world’s most valuable luxury brand. From the very first flat-topped canvas edition through to the stripy, chequered and monogrammed versions that followed, demand for the luxury carriers has yet to cease. You can see them with Audrey Hepburn in Love in the Afternoon (1957), Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can (2002) and on Instagram with Rihanna as she strolls off a plane. 

They’re very discreet and I like how they show their age

Louis Vuitton produces new models of trunks every year, priced from £2,000 for coffrets: Tyler, the Creator recently collaborated with menswear creative director Pharrell Williams on a capsule collection featuring classic brown trunks updated with a multicoloured blossom motif, while in Vuitton’s 2022 advertising campaign featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, they played chess atop a brown leather trunk. Lucile Andreani, Christie’s head of handbags and accessories for EMEA, has observed a “peak” in demand for some of these more recent iterations, such as those produced by the late designer Virgil Abloh. A limited-edition green trunk from his 2020 collection recently sold on 1stdibs for $372,000.

A copper Explorer Wardrobe trunk, sold at Christie’s for €189,000

A monogram canvas library trunk, sold at Christie’s for €88,200

Yet classic, elegantly aged pieces tend to dominate the secondary market. Vuitton is “arguably the most recognisable fashion brand in the world”, says Tim Bent of vintage-luggage specialist Bentleys. “People are fascinated by its history.” For Andreani, their longstanding appeal is in their ability to “transport us back to the eras they were used in”. A wide collector base also helps keep prices up, with those looking to invest competing against buyers furnishing hotels and homes.

For Bent, antique leather pieces are the holy grail. “They’re very discreet and I like how they show their age,” he says. He’s currently holding onto a leather shoe trunk from the 1920s, which has been fitted with an English lock by Bramah, a locksmith known for its “unpickable” designs. He teases that it will be for sale, eventually.

“I try to find the best original, untouched, unrestored versions,” Bent advises. As with a vintage designer bag, a touch-up can risk depreciating the value of an item, and patina adds character and evidence of authenticity. Look out for any oxidation on the hardware or natural wear of the canvas or leather.

Establishing pedigree is essential. The now-ubiquitous LV monogram was only introduced in 1896 to battle counterfeits, and on earlier Trianon (canvas) and Damier (chequered) versions, the trademark branding is not so obvious. Elisio Das-Neves, who has been trading in the Paris Puces since 1997, explains where one should look. “Louis Vuitton trunks will always have a label inside with their unique number,” he says. “The corner studding is also all signed, as are the wooden slats found on some of the older trunks.”

A 1934 canvas trunk, sold for €81,900 at Christie’s

a c1926 canvas trunk, sold for €94,500 at Christie’s

For those in search of added panache, there are plenty of wackier models on the market. Christie’s auction house recently closed its Legendary Trunks sale, the largest collection of Vuitton trunks ever offered (it had been amassed by a private collector). The 98 lots included a copper rifle trunk (which sold for €138,600), a shiny brown alligator caviar set with gold hardware (€25,200) and a bespoke monogrammed canvas croquet trunk (€30,240). Ninety-five per cent of lots sold, totalling €2.4mn, a world record for a collection of the brand’s trunks. Currently on sale with In Luxury We Trust is an antique picnic trunk that can serve six, complete with a glass decanter (£47,000). Bent searches “anywhere and everywhere” for trunks, but the most “magical” are often discovered by chance. Online marketplace Catawiki recently auctioned off a large-format 19th-century Zinc Explorer (with hermetically sealed locks designed for travel through humid climes) after seller Chloé Panissierrare discovered it underneath a tablecloth at her mother-in-law’s home in the south of France. “Only about 50-100 of these trunks exist today,” Catawiki’s Fleur Feijen says of the model, which would have been produced to order. 

Karrie Trim regularly peruses sites such as eBay, Poshmark and The RealReal for her next find. “I’m always hoping someone will post without knowing what it is,” says the Washington-based collector. When we speak she is on the hunt for a Sharon Stone vanity case (a great place for collectors to start, Feijen advises) to add to her 21-strong archive, which dates from between 1871 and 2023. But she keeps an open mind. “Sometimes the trunks find me, sometimes I find them.”