Ankara: arrested a Swedish national suspected of leading an international criminal gang, and who was wanted by Sweden for money laundering offenses, the UAE Interior Ministry said Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the arrest was carried out in coordination with Swedish authorities as part of a joint operation targeting transnational organized crime, the ministry stated. The suspect, who had fled Sweden, was wanted under an Interpol Red Notice, while Swedish authorities simultaneously arrested six other members of the network in Sweden.

Investigations found that the network handled around 70 million Swedish kronor ($7.5 million) in 10 months, including cash proceeds from criminal activities that were redirected to other criminal groups. The network also allegedly used cryptocurrencies to transfer funds.

Authorities said tracing cryptocurrency transactions and analyzing digital evidence uncovered financial links to other criminal activities, including organized crime and contract killings. The UAE Interior Ministry emphasized that intelligence sharing and coordination between Emirati and Swedish authorities helped locate and arrest the alleged gang leader in the UAE.

Abdulaziz Al Ahmad, director-general of the Federal Criminal Police at the UAE Interior Ministry, stated that the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of security cooperation between the two countries in combating international criminal networks. Anders Wiberg, commissioner and head of the International Department at the Swedish Police Authority, also praised cooperation with the UAE, saying it was instrumental in the operation's success.