FLASH NEWS
One of Sweden's most dangerous and wanted criminals arrested in Turkey
2025-07-05 09:06:22 / BOTA
One of Sweden's most dangerous and wanted criminals, Ismail Abdo, has been arrested in Turkey during a major police operation that seized over 1 ton of drugs and assets worth around $38 million.
Known by the nickname "The Strawberry," the 35-year-old is the leader of the notorious Rumba gang, which is involved in a wave of violence and drug trafficking that has rocked Swedish cities and led to armed clashes between rival groups.
Abdo, a dual Swedish and Turkish citizen, has been under investigation for years for organized drug trafficking and incitement to violent crime. He was the subject of an international arrest warrant from Interpol and is believed to have directed criminal activities from abroad.
His arrest came during a series of raids in Turkey, where authorities also seized 20 luxury vehicles, 51 properties, bank accounts and other assets. Along with him, 18 other people were detained, while arrest warrants have been issued for 21 others.
Criminal gangs in Sweden have been engaged in a fierce turf war, with the fiercest clash being between the Rumba gang and their rivals, the Foxtrot gang, led by Abdo's former close friend Rawa Majid. The violence between them culminated in 2023 when Abdo's mother was murdered in her home in the city of Uppsala.
Swedish authorities have faced fierce criticism for their handling of a wave of violence that has also involved minors and once-peaceful suburbs. For the first time, the Swedish government has called in the army to help police fight gangs.
In 2024, Abdo was arrested once in Turkey during a routine traffic stop, but was released on bail despite an Interpol warrant, a decision that sparked outrage in Sweden.
Now that he is back in custody, the extradition process could be complicated by his Turkish citizenship, further testing relations between the two countries in the fight against international crime.
According to a Swedish police report, around 14,000 people are active members of criminal gangs, while another 48,000 have direct ties to them – a reality that has shaken the country's image as one of the safest in Europe.
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