Foxtrot crime syndicate controlled from Iran entices teenagers in Denmark, Norway and Sweden to carry out contract hits. Foxtrot is one of Europe’s most ruthless criminal networks linked to dozens, if not hundreds, of bomb attacks and attempted contract killings as its foot soldiers vie for control of the Scandinavian drug trade. A legal loophole in Denmark, Norway and Sweden means that children under the age of 15 cannot be prosecuted for even the most serious offences, such as murder – making them ideal recruits. Young boys are approached on social media by a middleman, or “handler” for the Foxtrot gang.
Since it was founded in Stockholm around 2010, the syndicate has proved virtually impossible to dismantle. Rawa “Kurdish Fox” Majid, the syndicate’s leader, issues his orders from Iran – where he lives under the protection of the Ayatollah’s regime. Norwegian investigators say the vast majority of such children come from a migrant background; many feel poorly integrated into Norwegian society, which makes them easy for Foxtrot to manipulate. A series of social media posts by Foxtrot handlers try to recruit children. “If you want to work for Foxtrot, message me here!” says one of the posts. “You will be paid well and you will get protection from Fox,” it continues, with several emojis of a fox and a gun. “Jobs are available in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and abroad.”
Like any major crime syndicate, Foxtrot is primarily driven by profit, and its main source of income is drugs – it is the biggest supplier of heroin in Sweden. But in Norway, Foxtrot seems to prefer trading in party drugs and has been linked to a tremendous increase in cocaine after the pandemic. The gang has a large network of drug mules that operate in Sweden, Denmark and increasingly Norway, taking advantage of the region’s remote and relatively open borders.