Europol (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) has announced a coordinated strike force action that targeted illegal gambling across Spain and Sweden.
The strategic move from multiple jurisdictions and their police forces was aimed across the last weekend of November at a violent criminal entity operating out of the Stockholm area.
Stockholm gang network targeted by Europol
The entity at the heart of Europol’s investigation has criminal links to drug trafficking, money laundering, and illegal gambling rings.
Swedish news outlet SVT reported that the Södermalm region of Stockholm was frenetic with drones, helicopters, and armed police who stormed a local nightclub, “Krukan” on Sunday (November 30).
According to local prosecutor Wictor Beyer in an address to the Stockholm District Court, the premise was known to have “received, stored, traded, transported and transferred cash, bank balances and cryptocurrency worth approximately SEK 10 million ($1,060,000) per month, totalling at least SEK 230 million ($24,334,000).
Enforcement action across Spain and Sweden
The European Serious Organised Crime Centre (ESOCC) is the oversight body for cases that span multiple jurisdictions and require negotiation and logistical coordination across two nations to achieve their goals.
The ESOCC informed the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) and the Swedish Police Authority (Polisen) officers, who acted in concert to make multiple arrests and busts at locations of importance to Europol.
Their combined efforts resulted in the apprehension of five key suspects, three in Sweden and two in Spain, as part of the 150-officer deployment.
According to news outlet Aftonbladet, one Swedish man who was arrested is known to the police, and he was involved in a 2020 attack on a nightclub that left some individuals seriously harmed.
One eyewitness told Aftonbladet, “I was playing in the tournament that is usually held on Friday nights.” Then there was a loud knock on the door and a few seconds later a whole bunch of police storm in and shouted that we should get down on the ground and look at the floor.”
The individuals arrested have been charged with gross illegal gambling, gross promotion of illegal gambling and gross commercial money laundering.
Europol has mentioned that the raid resulted in the seizure of luxury items, drugs and money worth millions of dollars.
Featured image: Europol
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