Turkish Interior Minister's post on X follows Friday's extensive police operation in several Turkish cities on Friday.
"I want to thank the Swedish and Norwegian police authorities for their support for the operations", Yerlikaya writes in a post on X.
The Interior Minister writes further that the police operation was directed against three different criminal organizations, and that two of their leaders could be arrested. In addition to Abdo - who is called the Strawberry - a suspected gang leader who is wanted by Norwegian police was also arrested, according to Yerlikaya who also thanks Norwegian police.
A larger quantity of narcotics has been found in connection with the operation, and vehicles and companies with links to those arrested could be seized by the police, according to Yerlikaya.
Turkish news agency Haber 7 reports that Ismail Abdo had assets worth around 360 million kronor seized when he was arrested.
Kristersson: Can't hide
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says in a written comment that Sweden is cooperating with "several countries" both within and outside the EU to be able to arrest criminals who hide abroad.
"Swedish criminals who think they can hide abroad have good reason to now feel anxious - because you can't hide", says Kristersson who thanks the Turkish police "for this successful operation".
Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (The Moderate Party) says in another written comment that the arrest is a result of "deepened cooperation between Sweden and Turkey", and that Swedish authorities are at Turkey's disposal "to assist in the further investigation work if needed".
The Swedish Prosecution Authority announced on Friday that Abdo will not be extradited to Sweden because he, in addition to his Swedish citizenship, also has Turkish citizenship.
Suspected of several crimes
Ismail Abdo is suspected of several serious crimes in Sweden. Since the Foxtrot conflict escalated in 2023, Abdo has been one of the most prioritized people to arrest for the Swedish police.
As recently as the spring of 2024, Abdo was arrested in connection with a traffic stop in Turkey. That time he was released on bail - despite being internationally wanted by Sweden.
In the spring of this year, he was detained for the second time in his absence by a Swedish court, this time for having organized the reception and transport of 1.3 tons of cocaine that was seized by the Customs Agency in the spring of 2024 in Nynäshamn.
Erik Widmark/TT
Facts: "The Strawberry" and the divided Foxtrot
TT
"The Strawberry" Ismail Abdo was previously closely allied with the Foxtrot network and its leader Rawa Majid from Uppsala. They engaged in extensive drug smuggling to Sweden for several years.
Between 2021 and 2023, the network was involved in at least four separate conflicts with other gangs, including the Dalen network in southern Stockholm.
In the summer of 2023, an internal split occurred within the network, resulting in a bloody conflict between people in Foxtrot. Among other things, Abdo's mother was murdered in her home outside Uppsala.
Abdo later became a leader in a new, rival network that the police call Rumba.
Another of the leading figures in the conflict was shot dead in Iraq's capital Baghdad in early 2024.
Source: Police's National Operational Department (Noa), TT
