Gang leader arrested in Iraq after drug offences in Kristinehamn
A 34-year-old man suspected of directing drug trafficking in Kristinehamn and eastern Värmland has been arrested in Iraq. The arrest was carried out by the Iraqi police.
Wanted drug kingpin arrested in Iraq – suspected of crimes in Sweden and Turkey
A 34-year-old man, suspected of having played a key role in an extensive drug network in Värmland, has been arrested in Iraq. This is reported by aftonbladet.se.
– Our assessment is that we now have one of the key figures behind all the trafficking arrested, says Fredrik Bäcker, local police district chief in Kristinehamn.
The man is held in custody in absentia suspected of particularly serious drug offences and serious weapons offences, among other things. According to the police, he is said to have functioned as a "site manager" for drug trafficking in Kristinehamn and eastern Värmland. He was also wanted by Interpol for just over a year.
In recent years, the man is said to have been based in Turkey but also moved around in Iraq, where he was finally arrested – on the initiative of the Iraqi police. The suspicions against him relate to crimes that are said to have been committed in Sweden and Turkey.
Anders Wiberg, head of the international unit at the police's National Operations Unit, NOA, confirms that it was primarily the Iraqi police who were behind the operation.
– They took active steps without us really being fully aware of it, says Wiberg.
A couple of years ago, Sweden and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding on deepened cooperation in crime prevention. According to Wiberg, the agreement has had concrete effect, although he is cautious about singling it out as decisive in this particular case.
– Our cooperation with Iraq has improved considerably. Our ambition going forward is that we should develop deeper relations with various countries that we consider important for crime prevention, he says.
The drug network in Värmland was uncovered last year and has led to several convictions. In June, among others, a 37-year-old man was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment for involvement in the operation. Several other suspects have been abroad, including Denho Acar who has been internationally wanted for several years.
– This is a clear example of how criminality has been both local and international, says Fredrik Bäcker.
Source: Google News SE — Crime (sv)