Iraq arrests Swedish national wanted internationally for ‘murder and kidnapping’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi security forces arrested a Swedish national wanted internationally for “murder and kidnapping” in Kirkuk province, the counter-terrorism force said Monday.

“Counterterrorism units in Kirkuk province arrested a suspect wanted for murder and kidnapping in Sweden after receiving information indicating his presence in the provincd,” the Kirkuk Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Agency said in a statement.

“The units immediately intensified their intelligence efforts and field operations, which enabled them to apprehend him and hand him over to the relevant authorities to complete the legal procedures against him,” it added.

According to Swedish police, Iraq’s National Security Service (INSS) has been particularly active in searching for wanted Swedish criminals with ties to organized crime, seeking refuge in the country.

Although the suspect is not mentioned to have ties to organized crime, most of those arrested have been either members or enemies of the notorious Foxtrot Network, led by the Kurdish-Swedish Rawa Majid known as “the Kurdish Fox (Kurdiska Raven).”

The Foxtrot Network has been a dominant force in Sweden’s criminal underworld since the late 2010s, and is deeply involved in narcotics trafficking, shootings, bombings, and other violent crimes.

In July, leader of the Rumba Network Ismail Abdo, Majid’s partner-turned-enemy, was arrested by Turkish security forces. During the same month, Ahmed Alaa Fawzi, another top Foxtrot member known as “Dybala”, was arrested in Erbil.