Spanish police recently announced the arrest of several individuals who allegedly recruited Swedish and Danish minors to commit crimes using explosive devices against rival gangs in Spain. The operation began in May 2024 with the arrest of a Swedish minor in Benalmádena, Malaga province, who had been recruited online by the group. This minor had travelled to Spain with the intention of murdering the leader of a rival gang, but police were able to prevent the attempt. Simultaneously, two other Swedish minors who had traveled to Denmark with the same intention were arrested in Denmark. The investigation revealed that a criminal network, which included a married couple and their youngest son, was responsible for recruiting these minors, as well as conducting arms and drugs trafficking and money laundering.
The operation to dismantle the criminal gang was a joint effort between Spanish, Swedish, and Danish police forces, coordinated by EUROPOL and EUROJUST. Three Swedish citizens, including a minor, were arrested in Alicante in connection with the network’s recruitment of potential murderers through a Telegram channel. The married couple and their youngest son, who played a key role in the recruitment and payment of the minors responsible for the murders, were among those arrested. The network’s activities also involved arms and drugs trafficking, as well as money laundering. The individuals arrested were part of a larger criminal organization that was involved in orchestrating violent acts against rival gangs.
The Swedish and Danish minors who were recruited by the criminal network had been contacted online and persuaded to travel to Spain or Denmark to carry out the murders. The attempt to murder the leader of a rival gang in Spain was thwarted by police intervention, while minors who had traveled to Denmark with similar intentions were also apprehended. The investigation into the network’s activities revealed that the married couple and their youngest son were central figures in the recruitment and payment of the minors involved in the crimes. The network’s activities extended beyond recruitment to include arms and drugs trafficking as well as money laundering.
The operation to dismantle the criminal gang was a coordinated effort between multiple law enforcement agencies and organizations at both the national and international levels. The joint effort between Spanish, Swedish, and Danish police forces, along with the involvement of EUROPOL and EUROJUST, was crucial in successfully arresting the individuals involved in the recruitment of minors to carry out violent acts. The operation highlighted the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational criminal networks that are involved in various illicit activities, including the recruitment of minors to commit violent crimes. The arrests made in this case will likely have a significant impact on the criminal organization’s ability to recruit and carry out violent acts in the future.
