Authorities in Sweden and Spain dismantled an illegal gambling network that investigators estimate generated about €20 million a year. The coordinated operation took place in late November and involved about 150 officers across eight locations, including six sites in Stockholm and two in Murcia. Police arrested five suspects, three in Sweden and two in Spain. Officers seized cash, luxury watches, and other valuables valued at several hundred thousand euros.
Investigators said one property in Stockholm had been operating as an illegal gambling club for a significant period. Equipment found at the site indicated that the premises supported organised gambling activity. Police also recovered illicit drugs intended for resale. Officials said the combination of gambling operations and drug distribution showed that the group maintained a diversified criminal structure.
Authorities reported signs of human exploitation linked to the network. Investigators said individuals associated with the group were subjected to threats and coercion to ensure compliance and enforce debts. Police noted that such tactics are common in criminal organisations that rely on intimidation to protect revenue and deter outside interference.
The network also provided money laundering services. Investigators said the group used its gambling activities and financial channels to conceal proceeds from external criminal partners. Authorities are reviewing financial records to determine how revenue was moved and whether additional actors enabled the laundering process. Officials said these activities allowed the network to profit not only from its own operations but also from wider criminal markets.
The action was supported by Europol, which coordinated intelligence sharing between Swedish and Spanish authorities. Europol said the evidence collected during the searches would be shared across jurisdictions to support continued inquiries. The agency noted that the case highlights increasing cooperation between European law enforcement bodies targeting cross-border criminal groups.
Authorities said they will continue to examine the group’s structure, assets, and external connections. Investigators are assessing whether additional suspects may be linked to the operation and whether other properties or financial accounts were used to support the criminal network. Police also indicated that further arrests remain possible as analysis of seized data progresses.
Officials said the case reflects broader challenges posed by criminal groups that combine illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and financial crime. They noted that such networks can operate across multiple countries and rely on overlapping activities to sustain revenue and influence.