for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Europol has announced the arrest of five key suspects after a major cross-border operation targeting an illegal gambling and money laundering network active in Sweden and Spain. The raids mark one of the most coordinated strikes against organised gambling crime in the Stockholm region in recent years.
A coordinated hit across two countries
The operation involved close to 150 police officers carrying out searches at six locations in Stockholm and two in Murcia, Spain. Officers seized several hundred thousand euros in cash along with luxury watches and other high-value items.
One of the Swedish properties is believed to have been used as an illegal gambling club. Inside, police found packaged drugs ready for resale and signs suggesting potential human trafficking activity.
A network built on intimidation and multiple revenue streams
Europol said the suspects form the core of a criminal group known for using violence and intimidation to enforce debts and maintain control over parts of the illegal gambling market. The network is also linked to drug trafficking in Sweden and other Nordic countries.
Investigators found that the group operated on three main income streams:
- illegal gambling, generating around €20m a year
- money laundering, both for themselves and other criminal groups
- drug trafficking, supporting their influence across the region
Through these combined activities, the network acted as a major facilitator for other criminal organisations, strengthening its position in local and regional markets.
Long-term cooperation behind the breakthrough
Europol said the operation was the result of long-term intelligence sharing and coordination between multiple agencies. By connecting information from different countries, authorities were able to launch simultaneous raids and disrupt the group’s activities at once.
The agency highlighted that cross-border cooperation is becoming increasingly important as illegal gambling and money laundering networks rely on international links to fuel criminal profits.
For now, the arrests mark a significant step in dismantling a group that has been active for years, with investigations expected to continue as authorities analyse the seized material and track additional members linked to the network.
Source: Gambling Insider
