Swedish Police Escalate International Cooperation to Combat Gang Crime Abroad
Swedish police are stepping up international collaboration, securing foreign arrests and new agreements to clamp down on Swedish gang crime overseas.
- • Swedish police requested other countries to prioritize Swedish criminals in investigations.
- • Recent arrests abroad include Mikael Tenezos in Mexico and Poya Shafie extradited from Iraq.
- • A new agreement between Sweden and Iraq enhances cooperation against organized crime.
- • Challenges remain due to lack of cooperation with countries like Iran.
- • Upcoming negotiations in Morocco target criminal activities impacting Sweden.
Key details
Swedish police are intensifying efforts to tackle gang crime by collaborating closely with foreign countries. Deputy Chief Stefan Hector revealed that Sweden has requested other nations to prioritize the investigation of Swedish criminals, which he acknowledged is a significant and unusual appeal. This push follows several recent developments, including the arrest of Mikael Tenezos, a leader of the Dalennätverket gang, in Mexico and the extradition of Poya Shafie from Iraq, detained since 2023 and linked to the Foxtrot network. Sweden has noted a rise in arrests of Swedish criminals abroad, especially in countries identified as hubs for gang members like Turkey, Iraq, and Mexico. Hector emphasized the critical role of building trustworthy relationships through his travels to Turkey and Iraq, which culminated in a cooperation agreement with Iraq to enhance efforts against organized crime. He noted Sweden’s willingness to exchange expertise and training in return for prioritizing apprehension efforts. Upcoming talks in Morocco aim to address criminal activities affecting Sweden further. Nevertheless, challenges persist, with countries such as Iran remaining uncooperative, thwarting efforts to capture key figures like Rawa Majid of the Foxtrot network.
These developments mark a strategic shift towards international diplomacy and law enforcement cooperation, targeting the transnational scope of Swedish gang crime.