In recent years, Sweden has witnessed a concerning trend of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recruiting local criminal networks, including minors, to target Israeli and Jewish interests within the country. This strategy involves leveraging existing gang structures to carry out acts of violence and intimidation, thereby extending Iran’s influence into Europe.
A notable example is the Foxtrot crime ring, led by Kurdish-Swedish national Rawa Majid. Swedish authorities have identified this group as being involved in Iran-backed attempts to attack Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe. The IRGC’s collaboration with such gangs not only facilitates their operations but also complicates law enforcement efforts due to the blending of organized crime with state-sponsored terrorism.
Alarmingly, the IRGC has also been recruiting minors from these criminal networks. In May 2024, Sweden’s intelligence agency, SAPO, reported that Iran was enlisting gang members, some as young as 13, to commit acts of violence against entities it deems threats, specifically highlighting Israeli and Jewish interests. This exploitation of youth not only endangers the individuals involved but also poses significant challenges to social and security frameworks.
The escalation of these activities underscores the need for heightened vigilance and international cooperation to counteract Iran’s covert operations in Europe. By infiltrating local criminal elements, the IRGC is effectively exporting its proxy warfare tactics beyond the Middle East, thereby destabilizing communities and threatening global security.
