Swedish Gang Leader Ismail Abdo Detained in Turkey on Drug Charges
Ismail Abdo, a prominent Swedish gang leader, is detained in Turkey on drug smuggling and money laundering charges.
Key Points
- • Ismail Abdo faced charges of drug smuggling and money laundering in Turkey.
- • His arrest involved a collaboration between police from Sweden, Norway, and Turkey.
- • Abdo is linked to a major cocaine seizure in Sweden.
- • Due to his Turkish citizenship, he cannot be extradited to Sweden.
On July 8, 2025, Ismail Abdo, a notorious Swedish gang leader known as 'Jordgubben,' was detained in Turkey amid serious allegations of drug smuggling and money laundering. His arrest signals a major international law enforcement collaboration among Swedish, Norwegian, and Turkish police forces.
Abdo’s arrest transpired following coordinated raids at five locations targeting three separate criminal networks. Alongside Abdo, authorities detained ten other suspects during the operation, while seven were released under restrictions, as reported by Swedish broadcaster SVT. The Turkish court confirmed his detention later that day.
Abdo is currently wanted in Sweden for a multitude of alleged crimes, including incitement to attempted murder and extensive drug offenses. However, Turkish citizenship complicates matters; he cannot be extradited due to his nationality and existing criminal charges in Turkey, according to the Swedish Prosecutor's Office. This situation has raised concerns about the ongoing gang violence in Sweden, much of which has been attributed to a feud between Abdo and rival gang leader Rawa Majid, further escalating since late 2023.
Additional investigations link Abdo to a tumultuous cocaine seizure of 1.3 tons that occurred in Nynäshamn, Sweden, in April 2024, resulting in prison sentences for eight individuals and youth care for two others. Abdo’s connections to incidents of significant violence and drug trafficking continue to pose a serious challenge for law enforcement in Sweden, as the impact of his criminal enterprise resonates throughout the nation.