The United States has taken a strong stance against the Foxtrot Network, a notorious criminal gang based in Sweden, by announcing sanctions against them on Wednesday. The gang has been accused of carrying out attacks on behalf of Iran against Israeli interests in Europe.
According to the U.S. Treasury and State Departments, the leader of Foxtrot, Rawa Majid, has been specifically cooperating with the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security. This highlights Iran’s use of transnational criminal organizations and narcotics traffickers to achieve their goals, without any regard for the impact on communities in Europe.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “Iran’s brazen use of criminal gangs and narcotics traffickers underscores the regime’s attempts to achieve its aims through any means, with no regard for the cost to communities across Europe.” These sanctions, which typically include asset freezes and U.S. entry bans, are in line with President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.
Last May, Sweden’s Sapo intelligence service revealed that they believed Iran had recruited members of Swedish criminal gangs to carry out violent acts against Israeli and other interests in Sweden. This announcement came after reports of gunfire outside Israel’s embassy in Stockholm and the discovery of a live grenade on the embassy grounds.
According to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, documents from Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad showed that both Foxtrot and their rival gang Rumba had been recruited by the Iranian regime. The documents also revealed that Majid, a Swedish-Turkish dual national known as the “Kurdish Fox,” had been arrested in Iran and given the ultimatum to cooperate with the regime or face imprisonment.
In October, the Israeli embassy in Stockholm was targeted by gunfire, and the following day, two explosions occurred near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen. Danish police have arrested Swedish nationals in connection with the suspected grenade attack.
These attacks in Europe last year coincided with heightened tensions between Iran and Israel due to the ongoing war in Gaza. However, Sweden has been struggling to contain a surge in gang violence in recent years, with shootings and bombings becoming increasingly common across the country.
The United States’ decision to impose sanctions on Foxtrot and its leader, Rawa Majid, sends a strong message to Iran that their use of criminal gangs for their own agenda will not be tolerated. It also serves as a warning to other criminal organizations that may be tempted to cooperate with the Iranian regime.
The U.S. government’s actions demonstrate their commitment to protecting the safety and security of their allies, such as Israel, and their determination to hold those responsible for these attacks accountable. The sanctions also serve as a reminder to the international community that Iran’s actions will not go unnoticed or unpunished.
In conclusion, the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on the Foxtrot Network and its leader, Rawa Majid, is a clear indication of their strong stance against Iran’s use of criminal gangs for their own gain. It also serves as a warning to other criminal organizations that may be tempted to cooperate with the Iranian regime. The U.S. government’s actions demonstrate their commitment to protecting their allies and holding those responsible for these attacks accountable.
