Head Of International Gang Wanted By Interpol Arrested In UAE
Mian Nadeem
Published September 21, 2026 | 03:03 PM
The suspect, a Swedish national, fled Sweden and reached the UAE, while cryptocurrency was also used to transfer and convert funds, Emirati authorities said.
A Joint Security Operation
A joint security operation by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sweden led to the arrest in the UAE of a Swedish national wanted under an Interpol Red Notice and alleged head of an international money-laundering network. Swedish authorities also arrested six other members of the network within their country.
The Investigation Unfolds
According to the UAE Ministry of Interior, the suspect had fled Sweden and reached the UAE. An Interpol Red Notice had been issued against him on suspicion of money laundering, leading authorities to trace his whereabouts and arrest him during the joint operation.
Investigations revealed that the network handled approximately 70 million Swedish kronor—equivalent to around 26.5 million UAE dirhams—in just 10 months. Authorities stated that the network allegedly transferred cash obtained through criminal activities to other criminal elements.
The UAE Ministry of Interior noted that the network also employed cryptocurrency to transfer and convert funds. Monitoring crypto transactions and analyzing digital evidence aided investigators in tracing financial links to further organized crimes, including alleged contract killings.
Tracing the Network
The network members and their alleged leader were identified through intelligence sharing and direct security coordination between Emirati and Swedish authorities. Six other suspected members were arrested in Sweden during the same operation, and legal proceedings against them have commenced.
Brigadier Abdulaziz Al Ahmad, Director General of the Federal Criminal Police at the UAE Ministry of Interior, emphasized the significance of security cooperation and information sharing between the UAE and Sweden, as well as the tracking of financial links within international criminal networks. He assured that the UAE would continue collaborating with global partners to target internationally wanted individuals and combat cross-border organized crime.
Anders Wiberg, Swedish police commissioner and head of the International Division, also praised the cooperation with the UAE, highlighting close and effective coordination between the two countries as a crucial factor in the successful operation. Authorities highlighted that cryptocurrency financial records and digital evidence played a pivotal role, while legal proceedings against the arrested individuals continued under the applicable laws and judicial cooperation frameworks of both nations.