Turkish security forces have detained one of Sweden’s most wanted criminals, Ismail Abdo, in a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and organized crime, authorities and media reported.
Abdo, also known by his alias “Jordgubben” (The Strawberry), was arrested in the southern Turkish city of Adana, according to Swedish newspaper Expressen and Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency. He was among 19 suspects detained in Istanbul and other locations as part of a major operation targeting drug gangs.
Swedish broadcaster SVT said Abdo has been under international pursuit for years, suspected of orchestrating large-scale drug trafficking and inciting violent crimes in Sweden.
Swedish police confirmed the arrest of a “Swedish instigator” in Türkiye, without naming Abdo directly.
The 34-year-old is a central figure in a deadly feud with former associate Rawa Majid, known as the “Kurdish Fox.” Their rivalry, which began in 2023, has fueled a surge in gang-related violence in Sweden, particularly in the city of Uppsala.
A wave of shootings and bombings linked to the conflict resulted in 13 deaths over three months in 2023. According to SVT, the violence escalated after Majid’s network allegedly killed Abdo’s mother.
Swedish authorities have sought Abdo’s extradition as part of broader efforts to curb gang violence that has plagued the country for years.