Swedish Gang Leader Emin Muqa Kulic Arrested in Spain in Major Operation

Emin Muqa Kulic, a 21-year-old leader of the Swedish Dalennätverket gang, was arrested outside Barcelona, Spain, following an extensive surveillance operation. Kulic had been wanted for over a year and was previously listed among Europol's most wanted criminals. The arrest took place at a residence formerly linked to Jonas Falk, a convicted cocaine smuggler. Swedish authorities confirmed the arrest and have issued a European arrest warrant requesting Kulic’s extradition to Sweden.

Kulic is suspected of orchestrating serious violent crimes within Sweden, including recruitment and direction of young offenders involved in a wave of gang-related violence during 2024. Notably, he is linked to a murder at the restaurant Tre Vänner in Stockholm’s Midsommarkransen district, where a 13-year-old shot and killed a 25-year-old man. Prosecutor Ida Arnell stated that Kulic faces around twenty charges related to violent offenses such as murder and attempted murder.

Authorities plan to present a joint indictment against Kulic and another leading gang member, Mikael Ahlström Tenezos, who was arrested last fall in Mexico. The prosecution hopes to advance the case this autumn. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson praised the police’s successful international cooperation, emphasizing that criminals are not safe even abroad and commending the operation as a significant message against organized crime.

This arrest marks a crucial step in ongoing investigations aimed at dismantling the Dalennätverket gang and tackling organized violence affecting Swedish communities.