Swedish police arrest 188 criminals abroad this year

Swedish police have arrested 188 criminals abroad this year in cases linked to Swedish wanted notices, SVT reported. They are suspected of organising murders, mass shootings and bomb attacks from other countries.

Police arrested 21 year old Emin Muqa Kulic at a home outside Barcelona early on Saturday. He is reportedly part of the leadership of the Dalen network and has been remanded in custody in absentia in Sweden over around 20 offences.

Kulic was added to Europol’s most wanted list in the spring and is one of 33 Swedish criminals arrested in Spain so far this year.

“Spain has been a central location for Swedish gang criminals,” said Johan Olsson, head of the police National Operations Department, known as Noa.

The number of arrests abroad has increased from 157 during the corresponding period in 2025 to 188 this year.

“We have such an extensive problem that a single spectacular arrest is not enough. We need to increase the volume. It has been important for us to target the instigators abroad,” Olsson said.

Police said the increase followed long term efforts, including building relationships with other countries. The violence associated with the Swedish networks is unusual in many of those countries, which strongly oppose it, police said.

Police assess that the pursuit of instigators abroad has contributed to a reduction in deadly violence in Sweden. Olsson said the continuing challenge was that new actors were constantly emerging.

Police have previously said that around 800 criminals are based abroad while participating in criminal activity in Sweden.