Jump to content

Organized crime in Sweden

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Although organized crime has always existed in Sweden, it has risen significantly in the 2000s. The number of organized criminal groups operating in the country continues to rise. In 2018, Sweden had the highest gun deaths in total across Europe, and deaths involving guns tripled in Sweden between 2012 and 2020.[1]

Background

[edit]

Since the 2000s, street gangs in predominantly immigrant suburbs of large cities have become more involved in organized crime including shootings and bombings, with 80% of shootings in Sweden occurring in a “criminal environment” mostly in disadvantaged immigrant neighborhoods according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (2022). As the financial stakes have risen, so have the disputes between gangs.[1]

History

[edit]

Deaths involving guns tripled in between 2012 and 2020.[1]

In 2021 the popular Swedish teen rapper Einar was shot several times and killed in a suburb of Stockholm.[2] Sweden’s then National Police Commissioner Anders Thornberg told the Financial Times the rising gang violence in Sweden could potentially be a “threat” to its democracy if “certain groups” continue to “stand outside” of society, referring to immigrants in disadvantaged neighborhoods.[1]

Known criminal organizations

[edit]

Outlaw motorcycle gangs

[edit]

Outlaw motorcycle groups such as the Hells Angels and Bandidos are well-established in Sweden. Their membership is increasing and they are reportedly active in organized criminal activities.[3]

Other criminal organizations

[edit]
  • Foxtrot - A Kurdish criminal group based mostly in Uppsala and the Stockholm area in Sweden, led by Rawa Majid. The organization is considered to be well-organized, and has been a major concern for law enforcement agencies in Sweden.[4]
  • Södertälje mafia - An Assyrian criminal organisation involved in infiltrating the welfare sector and local politics.[5]
  • Chosen Ones[6] - A multicultural criminal organisation based in Stockholm. Led by the Gambia-born Essa Sallah Kah, it is affiliated with the Hells Angels. Most members are in prison.
  • Asir[6] - Criminal organisation which consists of criminals from Uppsala, Norrköping, Västerås and Göteborg. It mostly consists of Assyrians from Turkey and Assyrian, Arab and Kurdish Iraqis. The leader is Süyar Gürbüz an ethnic Assyrian from Turkey.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Kim, Lisa. "Sweden's Brutal Gang Problem: Here's What Officials Blame It On". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  2. ^ Kim, Lisa. "Popular Swedish Teen Rapper Einar Shot Dead Amid Surge In Country's Gang Violence Intensifies". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  3. ^ "Swedish biker gangs in expansion fast lane - The Local". Archived from the original on 2010-10-10.
  4. ^ "Exploring the Internal Battles of Foxtrot: Rawa Majid's Allies and Networks Revealed". 25 September 2023.
  5. ^ Allum, Felia; Gilmour, Stan (2019). Handbook of Organised Crime and Politics. Edward Elgar. ISBN 9781786434579.
  6. ^ a b "Det här är Sveriges kriminella gäng | TV3". www.tv3.se. Archived from the original on 28 December 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2022.

Further reading

[edit]