Sweden Intensifies International Cooperation to Crack Down on Gang Crime Abroad in 2025

Swedish authorities have ramped up their international efforts to tackle gang-related crime involving Swedish nationals operating across borders, resulting in 280 arrests abroad during 2025. This significant increase, highlighted by the apprehension of key gang figures in countries such as Turkey, Mexico, Iraq, and Morocco, underlines a renewed strategy focused on strong diplomatic relations and enhanced information sharing with foreign law enforcement agencies.

Notably, gang leaders Mikael Tenezos and Ismail Abdo were among those arrested overseas. Tenezos, a former promising hockey player turned key criminal figure, was deported from Mexico to Sweden after Swedish prosecutors coordinated with Mexican authorities following an extradition request. Simultaneously, Ismail Abdo was apprehended in Turkey after Swedish police provided detailed intelligence about his criminal activities. Stefan Hector, Deputy Chief of the Swedish Police, emphasized that "the primary goal of these collaborations is to combat organized crime," and praised the vital role diplomacy plays in achieving these results.

Sweden's intensified cooperation also led to new agreements with Iraq and Morocco, enhancing joint operations against organized crime groups with Swedish links. Despite such successes, authorities voiced concerns over the ongoing societal challenge posed by the recruitment of youth into criminal networks, noting troubling indicators such as the involvement of children as young as 12 in serious crimes.

This increased transnational effort reflects Sweden’s commitment to curbing gang violence beyond its borders, leveraging diplomacy and law enforcement partnerships to disrupt criminal networks internationally. As Hector remarked, these multi-sector efforts are critical to addressing not only gang leadership but also the prevention of youth recruitment, aiming for a sustainable reduction in organized crime's influence on Swedish society.