The arrested 21-year-old has been wanted internationally for a long time and is listed on Europol’s Most Wanted. He is identified in several investigations as a key figure in organized crime with direct impact on Sweden.
The man was arrested in Iraq in December and is being held in absentia in several district courts for a large number of cases of instigated murder, instigated attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
– We thank the police and other law enforcement agencies in Iraq. They have helped us capture another gang criminal who instigates murder from abroad. We are constantly expanding our cooperation with other countries – not least to show the gang criminals who are hiding outside the country that they cannot feel safe anywhere in the world, says Stefan Hector, Deputy National Police Commissioner.
Another actor arrested
The work has been carried out in close collaboration with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC). The Swedish Prosecution Authority has also played a central role in the legal work.
“We are very grateful for the close and professional cooperation with our Iraqi counterparts. It shows what is possible when authorities work together with a shared focus and responsibility,” says Stefan Hector.
In connection with the arrest of the 21-year-old, another actor with connections to Foxtrot was also arrested, remanded in absentia by the Gothenburg District Court for conspiracy to commit murder, gross public destruction, aiding and abetting a violation of the Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods, and involving a minor in crime.
Strategic breakthrough
The arrests are part of a long-term and ongoing effort in which the Swedish Police Authority has systematically built relationships, established lines of contact and developed cooperation structures together with Iraqi authorities. The aim has been to interrupt assassination missions, counter deadly violence and strike against criminal actors who not only affect Sweden, but also the stability and security of Iraq.
The police authority assesses that the arrest of the 21-year-old will have a significant impact on the Foxtrot network’s ability to operate internationally and constitutes an important step in the work against criminal structures that use foreign countries as a base for crime directed against Sweden. The arrest is seen as a strategic breakthrough, but the work does not stop here. Cooperation with Iraq continues at full speed, with a continued focus on identifying, disrupting and prosecuting key individuals.
– This work requires perseverance. It requires that we persevere, endure and continue to cooperate – both nationally and internationally. When the whole of society contributes, from law enforcement to preventive efforts, we can seriously reduce deadly violence, says Stefan Hector.
Several regions involved
Further operational results are expected to follow from the ongoing collaboration. Several police regions have been involved in the investigation, including Stockholm, South and Central Sweden.
The 21-year-old man is also a High Value Target in the Europol operation Grimm and has driven and coordinated violence through Violence as a Service. In Grimm, the focus is on tackling violence through Violence as a Service and in Sweden, we have seen, among other things, that Foxtrot and the Dalen network have systematically exploited children and young people, including young people with disabilities.”