Organized crime in Sweden explained

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

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.

History

Deaths involving guns tripled in between 2012 and 2020.

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.

Known criminal organizations

Outlaw motorcycle gangs

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

Fucked For Life - A criminal network in Sweden, probably founded by Daniel Maiorana (born c. 1977). At the core of the network are 12 men, some of whom have "FFL" tattooed on their arms or neck.
Original Gangsters - A criminal gang in Sweden. Founded in 1993, it has its base in Gothenburg and members in Halmstad and Jönköping, among other places, and is one of a handful of Swedish criminal gangs that have received significant media attention. Its leader and founder is Denho Acar, who fled Sweden in 2007. The current number of members is uncertain: Original Gangsters' own figures of some one hundred active were disputed by the Swedish police, which describe the gang as currently being largely decimated.
Hutch Gang - A criminal organization with a long history of illegal activities, primarily based in Ireland. Over the years, they have been involved in a range of criminal enterprises, including murders, drug trafficking, armed robberies, and property deals. The gang has operated not only in Ireland but also in Spain and the United Kingdom, amassing assets estimated to be as high as €20 million.
'Ndrangheta - An Italian Mafia-type organized crime syndicate based in the peninsular region of Calabria and dating back to the 18th century. It is considered one of the most powerful organized crime groups in the world.
Abergil Organization - An Israeli organized crime syndicate that has been active since the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The organization was founded by brothers Yaakov and Avi Abergil in the city of Ramat Gan, Israel, in the 1990s. The Abergil Organization is involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and extortion.
Lyons Crime Family - An notorious Scottish crime syndicate known for its involvement in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, arms dealing, extortion, assassination and high-level corruption schemes.
Kinahan Organised Crime Group - Also known as the Kinahan Cartel, is a major Irish transnational organised crime syndicate alleged to be the most powerful in Ireland and one of the largest organised crime groups in the world. It is also established in the UK, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. It was founded by Christy Kinahan in the 1990s. His eldest son Daniel manages the day-to-day operations of the family's criminal group. Estimated reports have credited them with wealth of up to €1 billion.
Camorra - An Italian Mafia-type criminal organization and criminal society originating in the region of Campania. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 17th century. The Camorra's main businesses are drug trafficking, racketeering, counterfeiting, and money laundering. It is also not unusual for Camorra clans to infiltrate the politics of their respective areas.
Corsican mafia - A set of criminal groups originating from Corsica. The mafia is closely tied to both the French underworld and the Italian Mafia. The Corsican mafia is an influential organized crime structure operating in Europe, and many African and Latin American countries.
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]
Brödraskapet - A Swedish prison gang active in organised crime. Their members are mostly native Swedes.
Södertäljenätverket - An Assyrian criminal organisation involved in infiltrating the welfare sector and local politics.^[5]
Naserligan - An Albanian criminal organisation. Newly formed alliance/syndicate between Kosovo Albanians and Ethnic Swedes.
Black Cobra - An organised criminal gang originally from Roskilde in Denmark. It expanded to Sweden where it was started in the district Rosengård in Malmø. In Sweden it mostly consists of Arab and Kurdish Iraqis and Iranians.
K-Falangen- An Albanian criminal organisation based in Malmö.
M-Falangen - A criminal organisation based in Malmö and composed of ethnic Bosnians. They are involved in a wide variety of criminal activities and are said to be very violent and brutal.
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.
Werewolf Legion^[6] - A criminal organisation based in Stockholm. Led by Rolando Teran de la Torre, it mostly consists of immigrants from sub Saharan Africa and South America who were born in the 1980s. They are involved in robbery and extortion.
Asir^[6] - Criminal organisation which consists of hardened 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.
Bredäng Warriors - A multi ethnic criminal organisation that is specialised in doing coarse robbery.
Uppsalamaffian - Criminal group from Uppsala mostly consisting of ethnic Swedes, modeled after the Italian Mafia, involved in cocaine trafficking, loan sharking and extortion. Leader Stefan Eriksson later cofounded the controversial video game company Tiger Telematics, which produced the Gizmondo hand-held console.

Notes and References

Web site: Kim . Lisa . Sweden's Brutal Gang Problem: Here's What Officials Blame It On . 2022-09-10 . Forbes . en.
Web site: Kim . Lisa . Popular Swedish Teen Rapper Einar Shot Dead Amid Surge In Country's Gang Violence Intensifies . 2022-09-10 . Forbes . en.
Web site: Swedish biker gangs in expansion fast lane - The Local. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101010010157/http://www.thelocal.se/29510/20101008/. 2010-10-10.
Web site: Exploring the Internal Battles of Foxtrot: Rawa Majid's Allies and Networks Revealed . 25 September 2023 .
Book: Handbook of Organised Crime and Politics . 9781786434579 . Allum . Felia . Gilmour . Stan . 2019 . Edward Elgar .
Web site: Det här är Sveriges kriminella gäng | TV3 . www.tv3.se . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091228080305/http://www.tv3.se/content/det-haer-aer-sveriges-kriminella-gaeng-0 . 28 December 2009 . dead.