The “Fox ring” sold – that’s how expensive it was

The ring is said to have originally adorned the finger of a person in the criminal network Foxtrot. Now the owner is completely different – and he has paid a record sum.

SEK 66,500 was the final price at the Kronofogden’s auction.

Interest has been huge in what is described as a symbol of the Foxtrot network. Made of 18 carat gold and shaped like a fox, the ring was seized during a search. The asking price was set at SEK 7,500 and the metal value is estimated at around SEK 9,000, but the auction’s final bid landed at almost ten times that amount.

– There is an incredible increase in bids. We have never experienced this before. We also had to look very closely at security when we had screenings, says Johannes Paulson, national coordinator against crime at the Swedish National Police, to TT.

But how do you know that the person who won the auction is not paying with gang money?

– We are very careful when it comes to money laundering. We do not accept cash payments at executive auctions and we will of course check where the money comes from.

Whoever bought the ring now has two days to pay. The purchase price will go towards paying off the original owner’s debts.

– There are fines, the crime victims’ fund, the traffic insurance association and what little government debt there was, says Paulson.

However, the auction has been controversial. Johannes Paulson admits that it was carried out with mixed feelings.

– This feels unfunny to do this for a group and to give them advertising. At the same time, this is our mission so we had no other choice. According to instructions, we must sell things and distribute money to those who should have paid.