Jonas Falk, 51, was arrested in his absence for involvement in an arson attack linked to the extortion ring surrounding former stock exchange CEO Joachim Kuylenstierna.
Immediately after the district court decision, Spanish police swooped in in a well-planned operation and arrested him.
– He is suspected of being the mastermind of this crime, of being behind it, says prosecutor Anna Stråth.
The detention hearing was held after a great deal of secrecy in Södertörn district court on Tuesday morning, something Expressen could reveal.
The court decided to arrest Jonas Falk in absentia on suspicion of aiding and abetting aggravated arson and attempted extortion.
The police in Spain waited with thumbs up
Spanish police were ready and waiting for the go-ahead from the district court and the prosecutor. Immediately when the decision came, they carried out a raid outside Barcelona and arrested Falk at his home.
– I had been in contact with the police in Spain beforehand. He was arrested very shortly after the district court’s decision, when I issued a European Arrest Warrant. The arrest took place in the area where he lives, says prosecutor Anna Stråth at the National Unit against International and Organized Crime.
The prosecutor: Jonas Falk is the suspected ringleader
The crimes for which Falk was arrested are said to be part of the blackmail ring surrounding the former CEO of the listed real estate company Fastators, Joachim Kuylenstierna. The gross arson was directed at Kuylenstierna’s business partner in November last year.
– He is suspected of being the mastermind of this crime, of being behind it, but I cannot go into more detail about what the evidence consists of, says Anna Stråth.
Several people have already been detained in the high-profile case.
“Sweden’s worst criminal”
Jonas Falk became famous after the police operation in 2008, which went by the name “Operation Playa” and dealt with Sweden’s largest drug bust. He was arrested and first sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Stockholm District Court for being the ringleader of an international cocaine ring, but was acquitted in the Court of Appeal.
In 2021, Falk was sentenced by the Spanish authorities to 2.5 years in prison for serious money laundering and tax crimes. The following year, he was arrested again on suspicion of collaborating with one of the most powerful drug networks in Europe. Tons of cocaine were then shipped to Spain from Venezuela.
Spanish police then called Falk Sweden’s worst criminal. Now he is suspected again.