UAE detains Swede wanted for money laundering — Anadolu Agency
The United Arab Emirates has detained a Swedish citizen suspected of leading an international criminal network and wanted in Sweden on suspicion of money laundering. The UAE Ministry of Interior reported this on September 17, Anadolu Agency reports.
Joint operation with Sweden
According to the UAE Ministry of Interior, the arrest was carried out in coordination with Swedish authorities as part of a joint operation against transnational organized crime. The ministry said the suspect had left Sweden and was internationally wanted under an Interpol Red Notice.
At the same time as the arrest in the UAE, Swedish law enforcement detained six more members of the network in Sweden. According to the Emirati ministry, intelligence sharing and coordination between UAE and Swedish authorities helped establish the whereabouts of and detain the suspected leader of the network.
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Cryptocurrencies and financial ties
The UAE Ministry of Interior said that over 10 months, the network processed around 70 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to approximately $7.5 million. According to the ministry, the sum included cash proceeds from criminal activity that were directed to other criminal groups.
The ministry also claims that the network used cryptocurrencies to transfer funds. Tracking cryptocurrency transactions and analyzing digital evidence, according to the UAE Ministry of Interior, revealed financial ties to other criminal activity, including organized crime and contract killings. Abdulaziz Al-Ahmad, director general of the UAE Ministry of Interior's Federal Criminal Police, and Anders Wiberg, head of the Swedish Police's International Department, positively assessed the two countries' cooperation during the operation.
