Swedish police confirm arrest of notorious gang leader Ismail Abdo in Turkey
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"Today, Turkish police arrested a Swedish man in a police operation in Turkey who is suspected of carrying out serious narcotics crimes for many years, as well as instigating gross violent crimes in Sweden," Swedish police wrote in a press statement.
Turkish news bureau Anatolia was first to report on Abdo's arrest, which has now been confirmed by Swedish police.
"The arrest is the result of targeted efforts by Swedish and Turkish authorities," Mats Berggren, acting deputy head of the police's National Operations Department (NOA) wrote in the statement. "Swedish police have assisted in the investigation which led to the arrest."
According to media reports, Abdo is reportedly one of 19 suspects arrested in a large-scale operation carried out by Turkish authorities in multiple different cities in the country.
State prosecutor Daniel Jonsson is working on a number of cases Abdo is involved in.
"I've put out an international warrant for him and he's also listed on Interpol," he told TT, although he did not comment on why ‒ or whether ‒ Abdo has been arrested this time.
"We've been working for a long time to try and get him back to Sweden," Jonsson said.
Abdo was previously the right-hand man of Rawa Majid, leader of the Foxtrot gang.
He fell out with Majid in 2023, sparking a wave of deadly shootings in Sweden. Since then, arresting him has been one of the Swedish police force's top priorities. He is wanted in Sweden for multiple drugs offences and for anstiftan till försök till mord, instigating attempted murder.
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Abdo holds Turkish citizenship and was arrested in 2024 by police in Turkey during a traffic control. He was released on bail despite the international warrant against him.
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