Ismail Abdo Arrested in Major Drug Smuggling Case

In April 2024, Sweden witnessed its largest cocaine seizure in history—1.3 tons were discovered in a container in Nynäshamn. Now, the verdict is in for 17 defendants.

Since the escalation of the Foxtrot conflict in 2023, the 34-year-old gang member Ismail “Strawberry” Abdo has been one of Sweden's most wanted criminals.

Last Friday, Ismail Abdo was arrested in a dawn raid in the Turkish city of Adana during a major operation targeting three criminal gangs.

Abdo was apprehended along with 18 other criminals, according to Istanbul's chief prosecutor.

While hiding abroad, the gang leader has been detained in absentia for several serious crimes, including the extensive drug operations that Ismail Abdo is suspected of organizing and leading.

He is suspected of particularly serious drug offenses and particularly serious drug smuggling following the record seizure in Nynäshamn last year when over 1.3 tons of cocaine were seized by the Swedish Customs.

"Ismail Abdo is the common denominator in this case," says state prosecutor Daniel Jonsson.

Now, eleven people have been sentenced in the case.

In the extensive drug ring linked to Ismail Abdo, police suspect that the drugs' value reached billions and were intended for more countries than just Sweden.

The longest sentence goes to 25-year-old Besha Aziz, who is sentenced to 16 years and 10 months in prison. Besides his involvement in the drug ring, he is also convicted of attempted murder related to the same gang conflict in Malmö in August 2024, and for involving a minor in criminal activities.

The investigation reveals that Aziz, during the period of the charges, was abroad in both Turkey and Colombia with individuals connected to Ismail Abdo's network. According to the investigation, the 25-year-old also had direct contact with Ismail Abdo, who paid for his travels.

Besha Aziz, previously convicted of serious drug offenses and serious weapons offenses, denies the charges.

In the drug ring, seven more people are convicted of attempted particularly serious drug offenses, and four people are convicted of aiding and abetting attempted particularly serious drug offenses. All individuals are sentenced to imprisonment. Eight people receive prison sentences ranging from 5 years and 4 months to 1 year and 6 months. Two young individuals are sentenced to closed juvenile care.

"It has been a complicated case involving many defendants and a large number of issues for the court to consider. All charges relate to acts that in various ways are linked to serious organized crime," says judge Erika Bergman, who chaired the court.

Six people, including three men and three women, are acquitted.

Ismail Abdo's Drug Courier

Expressen previously reported on two of the 17 people who were charged, including three women and 14 men.

According to the investigation, security guard and influencer Josefina Leijonelle, 33, was one of Ismail Abdo's handpicked drug couriers and scouts.

On his orders, she and her ex-husband Johnny Leijonelle, who are now a couple again, monitored a container with cocaine worth over 1.2 billion kronor on the street.

When police surveillance struck, secret chats were found where the Instagram profile praised her then-wanted boss.

"Your daughter is lucky to have a father like you."

The couple is now acquitted of the suspicions of aiding and abetting particularly serious drug offenses.

Since Ismail Abdo is in Turkey, he is detained in absentia and has not been able to be prosecuted.

It will take time before he can be brought to justice in Sweden.

The Swedish prosecutor's office has already determined that Abdo, who is a Turkish citizen, cannot be extradited to Sweden.

"It can take years. It depends on the Turkish legal process. Often, if you want a person extradited who is wanted and they are also being investigated for crimes in the other country, you finish the trial in the other country first," Mats Berggren, acting deputy chief at Noa, previously told Expressen.

Mortal Enemies

Ismail Abdo was long the right-hand man of Foxtrot network leader Rawa Majid—together they are believed to have controlled large parts of the Swedish drug market.

Today, they are mortal enemies.

The split is believed to be the reason for the wave of violence that has hit Sweden in recent years.

Ismail Abdo is also detained in absentia for incitement to attempted murder in Solna in April last year.