Ismail Abdo, the notorious gang leader known in Sweden as “Jordgubben (The Strawberry),” has reportedly been arrested in Turkey following a large-scale police operation against organized crime.
Swedish authorities confirmed on Friday that a Swedish citizen suspected of serious drug offenses and inciting violent crimes has been detained in Turkey, but they have not officially named Abdo. However, Swedish media, including SVT and Aftonbladet, have reported through police sources that the arrested man is indeed Abdo.
The arrest took place during coordinated raids at five locations across Turkey, including Istanbul, Adana, Mersin, Muğla, and Antalya. Nineteen individuals were detained during the operation, which, according to Turkish media, was supported by intelligence from both Swedish and Norwegian police. Mats Berggren, acting deputy director at Sweden’s National Operations Department, described the arrest as the result of long-term cooperation between the Turkish and Swedish legal systems, confirming that Swedish police had contributed significantly to the investigation.
Reports also indicate that two additional Swedish nationals with leading roles in Abdo’s network were detained during the same raids.
Within the Foxtrot criminal network, Abdo’s arrest is being seen as a significant moment. A source from the group described it as a chance for others to take over leadership within the gang.
Ismail Abdo, who holds Turkish citizenship, has long been sought by Swedish authorities and was listed by Interpol among the world’s most wanted criminals at the beginning of the year. He had previously been arrested in Turkey during a traffic stop in the spring of 2024 but was released on bail despite his international wanted status. Since then, Sweden has made repeated attempts to secure his arrest and has also explored the option of transferring his prosecution to Turkey, given his citizenship and residence there.
Abdo is accused of orchestrating some of the most serious criminal activities in Sweden in recent years, including industrial-scale drug trafficking. He is suspected of being behind the transport of 1.3 tons of cocaine seized in Nynäshamn in 2024, which forms part of a broader investigation into international drug trafficking networks.
He is also suspected of masterminding violent crimes, including the murder of Harris Österdahl in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where several Swedes have already been convicted. In addition, the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad accused him of involvement in a shooting at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm in May 2024.
Abdo’s name became infamous in Sweden after his falling out with former ally Rawa Majid, known as the “Kurdish Fox.” Together, they had previously controlled large parts of Sweden’s drug trade through the Foxtrot network. However, their relationship collapsed in 2023 following a drug dispute, triggering an internal feud that led to one of the worst waves of gang violence in Swedish history. The conflict escalated further in September 2023 when Abdo’s mother was murdered in Uppsala, setting off a cycle of revenge attacks targeting the families of both men.
Swedish prosecutor Daniel Jonsson, who leads the investigation related to the major cocaine seizure, said he was aware of the arrest but declined to comment further.
Authorities in Sweden are now in contact with Turkish officials regarding the case, though it remains unclear whether Abdo will face prosecution in Turkey or he will be extradited to Sweden.
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