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Turkish police arrested an internationally wanted Swedish gang criminal, Ismail Abdo, known as "The Strawberry," marking a significant development in efforts to combat cross-border organized crime.
Swedish police confirmed the arrest in a statement Friday, saying Abdo was detained "in a police operation in Türkiye" and is suspected of serious narcotics crimes and instigating violent crimes in Sweden over many years.
The arrest represents the culmination of joint Swedish-Turkish law enforcement efforts targeting one of Sweden's most wanted criminals. "The arrest is the result of targeted efforts by Swedish and Turkish authorities," said Mats Berggren, acting deputy head of Sweden's National Operations Department. "Swedish police have assisted in the investigation which led to the arrest."
Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency first reported the arrest, which occurred as part of a large-scale operation by Turkish authorities across multiple cities that netted 19 suspects, according to media reports.
Abdo's capture comes more than a year after Turkish authorities previously arrested him during a traffic stop in May 2024 but released him on bail of ₺20,000 ($620), despite an active Interpol red notice. That release had drawn criticism from Swedish officials who had been working to secure his extradition.
The Swedish gang leader holds Turkish citizenship and was formerly the right-hand man of Rawa Majid, leader of the Foxtrot gang known as the "Kurdish Fox." The two fell out in 2023, triggering a wave of deadly shootings in Sweden that made Abdo's arrest a top priority for Swedish police.
Swedish state prosecutor Daniel Jonsson, who is handling multiple cases involving Abdo, confirmed he had issued an international warrant and placed him on Interpol's wanted list. "We've been working for a long time to try and get him back to Sweden," Jonsson told Swedish news agency TT.
The conflict between Abdo and Majid's criminal organizations has spilled beyond Sweden's borders into Türkiye. In September 2023, Majid's gang was reportedly responsible for killing Abdo's mother in Uppsala, Sweden. The violence then moved to Turkish soil, with rival gang members engaging in armed attacks in Istanbul's Sariyer district.
The case comes amid broader challenges in international law enforcement cooperation. Türkiye has faced criticism for its handling of wanted criminals who obtain Turkish citizenship, sometimes through its investment citizenship program launched in 2018 that grants passports for $400,000 investments.
Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer previously told Swedish media that "no one should be able to continue to control and participate in crimes in Sweden from abroad with impunity," emphasizing the government's commitment to international judicial cooperation.
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