Two Prominent Gang Leaders Arrested at Arlanda Airport in Separate Incidents
Two major gang leaders with histories of violent crime were arrested at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport on October 24, 2025, highlighting ongoing efforts against organized gang violence in Sweden.
- • Ranjdar Karwan, linked to the Östbergan network, was arrested at Arlanda arriving from Munich.
- • Karwan has a history of drug convictions and a 2013 attempted murder sentence; his three brothers were killed in gang violence.
- • A 29-year-old gang leader connected to the Foxtrot criminal network was also arrested at Arlanda on the same day.
- • Authorities are investigating the Foxtrot-linked suspect's specific involvement in a series of violent crimes.
Key details
On October 24, 2025, significant arrests were made at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport involving two high-profile figures linked to serious gang-related crimes. Ranjdar Karwan, alias Abraham Kadir, aged 36, was detained around 5 PM while arriving from Munich. Karwan is a known key figure in the Östbergan gang network with a criminal past including convictions for serious drug offenses and a seven-year sentence for attempted murder in 2013 amidst violent clashes with the Bredäng network. Notably, three of Karwan's brothers, all involved in gang activity, have been murdered, with the latest killing occurring during a shooting at a Fridhemsplan hotel in December 2021. Since late 2023, he had been primarily residing abroad in Germany before his recent capture.
In a separate but related operation, a 29-year-old gang leader associated with the criminal network Foxtrot was also arrested at Arlanda on Thursday and is now held on probable cause. This individual is suspected of multiple serious violent crimes tied to Foxtrot's activities. Prosecutor Lukas Tigerstrand noted that the ongoing investigation aims to clarify the man's precise role in these offenses, despite prior convictions of others involved in these crimes.
These arrests underscore the Swedish authorities' continued push to disrupt organized crime and gang violence impacting Stockholm and beyond. Both operations took place within hours at a critical national transportation hub, enhancing public safety efforts. Details about the Foxtrot-linked suspect’s identity have not been disclosed pending legal restrictions.