A joint law enforcement operation conducted in Sweden and Spain between 28 and 29 November targeted a violent criminal network based in the Stockholm area. The group is suspected of running extensive illegal gambling operations, laundering large sums of criminal proceeds for themselves and other criminal actors, and engaging in drug trafficking across Sweden and the Nordic region, consolidating their influence in local and regional criminal markets.

Operation results

Around 150 officers participated, searching six locations in Stockholm and two in Murcia, Spain. The raids resulted in the arrest of five key suspects — three in Sweden and two in Spain. Authorities also seized hundreds of thousands of euros’ worth of assets, including luxury watches and cash. At a property in Sweden, reportedly used as an illegal gambling club, police discovered drugs prepared for resale and evidence pointing to possible human trafficking activities.

The arrested individuals are believed to be central figures in a local network notorious for using violence and intimidation to secure income, enforce debts, and control parts of the Stockholm illegal gambling market.

Criminal operations uncovered

Coordinated, multi-agency approach

This operation is part of a larger, multi-agency strategy aimed at dismantling criminal networks that exploit communities while maintaining international links.

Europol played a pivotal role by connecting intelligence gathered across borders with local enforcement actions, ensuring that information collected in one country could lead to tangible results elsewhere — including on the streets of Stockholm.

Agencies involved

This collaborative approach highlights the importance of international coordination in tackling organized crime that spans multiple countries.