A coordinated two-day operation in Sweden and Spain has disrupted a criminal network that investigators say controlled one of Stockholm’s largest illegal gambling operations. The cross-border raid marks one of the most significant gambling crime interventions in Europe this year, revealing an illegal business model built on gambling revenue, money-laundering services and drug trafficking across the Nordics.
A violent network at the center of Stockholm’s black market
Authorities describe the group as a tightly organized criminal hierarchy that relied on violence, intimidation and debt enforcement to dominate parts of the black market. Investigators have now linked the organization to a long-standing operation that generated roughly 20 million euros every year, using unlicensed gambling rooms, private clubs and mobile operations to build a consistent revenue stream.
Beyond running its own gambling sites, the group is believed to have provided money laundering services to other criminal groups. Europol’s assessment indicates that the network helped move significant amounts of money from gambling, drug sales and other criminal markets through Sweden and Spain.
Raids in Sweden and Spain uncover cash, drugs and trafficking links
Between 28 and 29 November, nearly 150 officers executed raids across eight locations: six in Stockholm and two in Murcia. Five suspects, including the alleged organizers, were arrested.
Searches uncovered several hundred thousand euros in valuables such as luxury watches and large amounts of cash. One Stockholm property, believed to be a dedicated gambling club, contained drugs packaged for resale and signs of possible human trafficking. Investigators say this mix of illicit activity highlights how large illegal gambling hubs often serve as entry points into wider criminal markets.
Illegal gambling, laundering and drugs all in one organization
The investigation revealed a clear three-pillar revenue model. Illegal gambling supplied the network’s core income. Laundering services helped clean proceeds for other criminals, extending the group’s influence beyond its own operations. Drug trafficking provided additional income and strengthened its role in the Nordic criminal world.
Authorities say the network’s readiness to supply services to other offenders made it a facilitator in broader criminal empires, helping sustain criminal activities that extend far beyond gambling.
Europol intelligence enabled simultaneous cross-border strikes
The operation is part of a long-term strategy aimed at dismantling networks that operate across borders but cause concentrated harm in local communities. Europol coordinated intelligence exchanges between Sweden and Spain, allowing police to target the group at the same time and minimize the chance of escape or evidence destruction.
Officials say the strike reflects a growing emphasis on synchronized enforcement, where intelligence gathered in one region is immediately actionable elsewhere.
A broader crackdown on Sweden’s illegal gambling landscape
The raids also coincided with enforcement against Stockholm’s long-running Krukan poker club, which was stormed during a tournament with nearly 100 people inside. Although not referenced by name in Europol’s notice, Swedish media reports suggest the venue was among the locations connected to the wider investigation.
With suspects now in custody and ongoing forensic analysis of seized materials, authorities expect to see additional charges connected to gambling, laundering and human trafficking violations.
References:
- SVT Nyheter: Swedish TV report on the Krukan raid and Europol-described criminal network – https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/haktas-efter-insats-mot-spelklubb-europol-karnan-i-kriminellt-natverk
- Aftonbladet: Coverage of the coordinated raids on the illegal “Krukan” gambling club in Stockholm – https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/Rjbeza/polisrazzia-mot-krukan-tillslag-mot-svartspel-i-stockholm
- Cybernews: Summary of the Sweden–Spain operation, €20m illegal gambling turnover and arrests – https://cybernews.com/cybercrime/eur20m-nordic-gambling-empire-crushed-drugs-trafficking-money-laundering-exposed/
- 20minutos: Spanish report on two arrests in Spain linked to the Sweden-based illegal gambling network – https://www.20minutos.es/nacional/dos-detenidos-espana-una-operacion-europol-contra-red-narcotrafico-sueca_6905167_0.amp.html
