Kinship in crime: the case of criminal families in Sweden

Research on organized crime has discussed the role of families, both through kinship and artificial bonds, since its start, particularly concerning mafia-like organizations. Although "family" is broader in its implications than blood ties in these kinds of crime organizations, the behavioral patterns are typically embedded in family ties, with a strong identity grounded on local traditions and origin myths. The problem of criminal organizing based on kinship is also not new for Swedish scholar studying organized crime in Sweden. However, the problem with criminal families made headlines in Sweden as late as September 2021 when the Deputy Director of the Swedish Police told Swedish radio and television that there were at least 40 family-based criminal gangs, so-called “clans” in Sweden. Criminal families doing crime and making their way into business and politics in order to wield more formal influence. The aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of the role of kinship and so-called criminal families in Sweden, with special attention on the Syriac Mafia. This chapter is based on police reports, previous studies on organized crime in Sweden and data compiled from Swedish governmental registers on crime and information from the Swedish Police about known affiliation to organized crime in Sweden.