Major Police Raid on Illegal Stockholm Poker Club Sparks Fear and Criticism

On Friday night, Swedish police conducted a significant raid on the illegal poker club 'Krukan' located in the basement of a residential building in Södermalm, Stockholm. The operation, involving multiple police units along with drones and a helicopter, targeted serious illegal gambling and suspected money laundering activities. Approximately 80 people were present inside the club during the raid, including players participating in a poker tournament.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and terrifying, with many initially unsure whether the intruders were police or armed criminals. One participant recalled, "We didn't know if it was the police or robbers," and another said, "I was terrified, I thought there was going to be a shooting." Police officers entered with drawn weapons, shouting commands for players to get down, causing confusion and fear.

After the raid, detained individuals were forced to sit with their hands on their heads for over three hours, a practice that drew sharp criticism from attendees and Mauritz Altikardes, president of the Swedish Poker Federation. Altikardes expressed concern over the police tactics, highlighting the traumatic experience endured by players.

Three men were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of serious money laundering and organizing illegal gambling. The club operated without a gaming license, a fact that surprised some regular visitors who previously viewed the establishment as serious and well-managed. The raid on 'Krukan' forms part of a larger coordinated effort involving Europol to clamp down on illegal gambling and money laundering operations in Sweden, with 'Krukan' having prior connections to match-fixing and international gambling fraud networks.

Following the incident, one veteran player stated his intention to avoid such poker clubs in the future due to safety concerns raised by the raid. Police have so far refrained from commenting publicly on the details of this operation.