Europol Breaks Up Sweden–Spain illegal Gambling Network
Europol and national authorities executed a large-scale enforcement effort between 28 and 29 November 2025, targeting a violent group believed to have controlled significant portions of Stockholm’s illegal gambling scene. Nearly 150 officers conducted simultaneous searches across six locations in Stockholm and two in Murcia, resulting in the arrest of five suspects identified as central figures within the organisation. Seized items included large sums of cash, luxury goods, and evidence linking the operation to additional criminal markets.
Investigators estimate the group generated an annual turnover of approximately €20 million through three primary revenue streams: illegal gambling, laundering illicit proceeds for internal and external clients, and drug trafficking across Nordic regions. One location raided was an illegal gambling club in Stockholm, long known in underground circles and active during a €100 buy-in poker tournament at the time of the raid. Officers reported finding drugs packaged for resale and indicators of potential human-trafficking activity inside the premises.
Authorities described the organisation as highly violent, using intimidation to enforce debts and maintain control of illicit gambling markets. Europol’s role focused on connecting intelligence from multiple jurisdictions, ensuring coordinated action that could effectively disrupt the network’s broader criminal ecosystem.
The operation also highlighted the growing importance of international collaboration in tackling organised crime linked to illegal gambling. By acting as a facilitator for other criminal actors, the group contributed to a wider system of interconnected illicit activities that extended beyond national borders.
The Swedish National Police and Spanish National Police jointly led the ground operation, with support from the Swedish Gambling Authority and Enforcement Authority in actions against illegal gambling venues. This latest intervention underscores increased regulatory pressure on unlicensed markets across Europe.
