Swedish crime network on the Costa del Sol convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering
A man from Helsingborg, identified as leader of a Swedish criminal network on Spain's Costa del Sol, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. Joakim Broberg, known as "Fat Tony", receives nine years for drug offences and money laundering.
Swedish crime network on the Costa del Sol convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering
A Swedish criminal network based on the Costa del Sol has been convicted of large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering. The man identified as the group's leader, originally from Helsingborg, has received a prison sentence of 16 years. At the time of his arrest he was described as one of Europol's priority targets.
The organisation was accused of having brought hundreds of kilos of hashish from Morocco into Europe. Several of its leaders are Swedish, and they were also investigated for laundering proceeds amounting to hundreds of millions of crowns from criminal activities.
The figure that attracted the most attention during the trial was Joakim Broberg, a long-time resident outside Gothenburg and known as "the mayor's stepson in Marbella". During the proceedings he was linked to the alias "Fat Tony" in encrypted conversations, and has now been convicted of organised drug trafficking under that identity.
The sentence imposes on Broberg four and a half years in prison for offences against public health, to which are added another four and a half years for money laundering. In total, nine years in prison, according to Spanish media outlets such as El País and La Sexta. In addition, he must pay a fine of 50 million crowns for the money laundering. The ruling states that he helped to launder tens of millions of crowns of illicit origin through various companies.
The prosecution had sought 18 years in prison and 300 million in financial penalties. The final sentence is lower because the court does not consider Broberg a "member of a criminal organisation", despite the fact that he collaborated with the Swedish network. He is also acquitted of some of the drug trafficking and money laundering charges brought against him.
Broberg has expressed his indignation at the sentence and declared in brief comments: "It's rubbish. I'm going to appeal." He also maintains that the reports on the length of the sentence are incorrect and that he has only been sentenced to 4.5 years.
Currently, Joakim Broberg remains at liberty and resides in Madrid. A ruling in the second instance, according to Spanish legal tradition, could take several years.
Source: Expressen
Source: Expressen