21-year-old EU most wanted suspect arrested in Iraq
SKAiF NewsNG SNN
A 21-year-old suspect on the EU Most Wanted list has been arrested in Iraq following a collaboration between the Swedish Police Authority and Iraqi law enforcement authorities.
The Swedish national, a High-Value Target under Europol-supported Operational Taskforce (OTF) GRIMM, is identified as an organiser of serious violence directed at Sweden from abroad.
Europol, in a statement, said the member of the Foxtrot criminal network played a key role in coordinating violence-as-a-service (VaaS), including the recruitment and exploitation of minors.
VaaS is the term for the outsourcing of violent acts to delinquent service providers. It mostly involves the use of young perpetrators to carry out threats, assaults, or killings for a fee.
Another person linked to the illicit ring is in custody after being declared wanted by Swedish judicial authorities for conspiracy to commit murder and explosives-related crimes.
The operation in Iraq marks a significant outcome for OTF GRIMM, which targets criminals using cross-border infrastructure to execute brutality while operating from outside the EU.
With the extradition proceedings underway, the authorities believe that the arrest will weaken the network’s ability to coordinate violence, even as other actors remain under watch.
Europol highlighted concerns about how young people are deliberately targeted and recruited to commit drug trafficking, cyber-attacks, online fraud, and violent extortion.
The recruitment process, according to the law enforcement agency, is highly strategic and usually carried out in four stages: Instigator, Recruiter, Enabler, and Perpetrator.
Since the start of OTF GRIMM in April 2025, 63 perpetrators have been arrested, 40 enablers apprehended, 84 recruiters detained, and 6 instigators arrested, including 5 High Value Targets.
