Over 300 elected officials linked to gang crime networks

A new report reveals that more than 300 individuals tied to criminal networks have held or currently hold elected political positions in Sweden, according to public broadcaster SVT Nyheter.

Research conducted by the collaboration Sverige mot organiserad brottslighet (Sweden Against Organised Crime) found that 313 elected officials—primarily at the municipal and regional levels—were identified when police intelligence was cross-referenced with data from Statistics Sweden (SCB). The group includes local politicians and municipal auditors.

Of these, 73 remain in office during the current electoral term, mostly in local government roles. Police estimate that between 50,000 and 60,000 people in Sweden are involved in gang-related crime.

Fredrik Rosengren, Sweden’s national enforcement chief, described the scale of the findings as “surprising” in comments to newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.