**Infamous Gang Leader Ismail Abdo Captured in Turkey**

**Ismail Abdo, leader of the notorious Rumba gang and subject of an Interpol red notice, has been arrested in Turkey following a significant crackdown on drug trafficking and violence.**

In a significant development, Ismail Abdo, one of Sweden's most wanted gang leaders, has been apprehended in Turkey, as confirmed by the Swedish prosecutor’s office. The 35-year-old, who holds dual Swedish-Turkish citizenship, is infamous for leading the Rumba crime gang and is linked to a multitude of drug trafficking charges, as recognized by Interpol, which had issued a red notice against him last year.

Abdo, who is commonly referred to as "The Strawberry," was arrested alongside 18 others during a major police operation in Turkey, which resulted in the seizure of over a ton of drugs, according to TRT, Turkey’s state broadcaster. While the specific locations of these raids remain undisclosed, they illustrate the ongoing battle against organized crime in the region. In addition to the arrests, Turkish police reportedly confiscated assets valued at approximately 1.5 billion Turkish lira (around $38 million), including vehicles, bank accounts, and real estate holdings.

The Swedish police have not officially named Abdo but have confirmed the detention of an individual suspected of serious drug offenses and inciting violence in Sweden. The rise in gang-related violence in Sweden has become a pressing issue in recent years, particularly due to Abdo's rivalry with Rawa Majida, the leader of an opposing gang known as Foxtrot. Their feud has led to numerous fatalities, a situation worsened by the murder of Abdo's mother in Uppsala this year, which intensified the conflict further.

The growing wave of gang violence has led the Swedish government to deploy military forces to assist local law enforcement in curtailing the surge in criminal activity. In 2024, Turkish authorities had briefly detained Abdo during a traffic stop but released him on bail despite the active red notice, an action that drew backlash from Swedish officials seeking his extradition.

Sweden's center-right government, which came to power in 2022 with a commitment to combat gang violence, may view Abdo's arrest as a crucial step. However, his Turkish nationality could potentially complicate extradition processes. According to a police report, approximately 14,000 individuals in Sweden are directly involved in criminal gangs, while an estimated 48,000 more are associated with them. Recent incidents have also implicated Swedish gangs in broader geopolitical issues, including attacks linked to Iranian interests targeting Israeli or Jewish entities in the region.