Moroccan and Swedish security forces have collaborated to capture a 31-year-old Swedish national in Agadir, Morocco, on September 25. The suspect was wanted under an Interpol Red Notice for preparation for murder and had a central role in the Foxtrot criminal network, linked to violence and drug trafficking in Sweden. Swedish National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh praised Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of Morocco's National Security and Territorial Surveillance services, for his "very professional and effective" work.
The arrest is considered strategically important by Swedish authorities, potentially impacting the Foxtrot network's capacity for violent and drug-related crime. This operation follows another in Morocco that targeted a Swedish high-value actor suspected of driving violence in Sweden and Norway. Deputy National Police Commissioner Stefan Hector thanked Hammouchi and his colleagues for their significant contribution to weakening the Foxtrot network. These operations demonstrate a broader change in organized crime structures.
Criminal networks no longer require leaders, operatives, and money to be in the same territory, making it essential for law enforcement to pursue organizers based outside Europe. A Swedish Customs official welcomed the ability to pursue suspects in Morocco who control serious organized crime in Sweden. Swedish authorities stress the importance of targeting organizers rather than just lower-level members. This approach can neutralize the advantages globalization has given organized crime.
Moroccan expertise in tracking transnational networks has become a significant asset in this effort. Cooperation between Rabat and Stockholm has deepened since a Swedish police liaison officer was posted in Morocco in 2023, followed by official visits and direct coordination. In April 2026, Hammouchi and Lundh signed a cooperation agreement in Stockholm. This partnership has led to several arrests and extraditions.
The value of this cooperation lies in converting intelligence into operational results. Morocco's model benefits from the complementarity between the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) and the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN). This combination links intelligence work with criminal investigation and field operations while maintaining active international cooperation channels. This capacity is not limited to Sweden, as Morocco has worked with other countries and agencies on major transnational investigations.
In March 2026, Spain reported that over a decade of operational cooperation with Morocco's DGST had yielded 31 joint counterterrorism operations and 150 arrests. Moroccan services have also collaborated with French, American, and British agencies and Europol on significant cases, including a large Atlantic cocaine case that resulted in 105 arrests and the seizure of over 10.4 tonnes of cocaine. These partnerships are built on trust, measured by tangible results.
The cooperation between Morocco and Sweden demonstrates the importance of trust and direct security coordination in combating organized crime. Moroccan security institutions have developed a strong reputation within international cooperation networks, with expertise extending beyond counterterrorism to narcotics, organized crime, and digitally managed criminal activity. This partnership serves as a practical illustration of the effectiveness of collaboration in achieving significant results in the fight against organized crime.
Key points
- - Morocco and Sweden enhance security cooperation, yielding significant arrests in the fight against organized crime. - The partnership between Rabat and Stockholm has deepened since 2023, resulting in several arrests and extraditions. - Moroccan expertise in tracking transnational networks has become a significant asset in combating organized crime.
