It was in September 2009 that the security company G4S safe deposit box in Västberga in Stockholm was subjected to one of Sweden’s largest and most described robberies.
By helicopter, the robbers landed on the roof of the safe deposit box, where they managed to get in through a window and down ladders to one of the floors of the property where large sums of cash were kept.
READ MORE: The helicopter robbery: Are the convicts free today and where is the money?
Photo: Police/TTPhoto: Police/TTPhoto: Police/TT
Within 31 minutes, the robbers had gotten over SEK 39 million and left the scene by helicopter, which was later found in a forest edge in Täby.
But shortly afterwards, the police were able to arrest several of them through DNA traces. Once in court, several of the robbers were sentenced to prison for what has become known as the “helicopter robbery”. However, the loot has never been recovered.
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Mahmut Suvakci stars in “Helicopter Robbery”
In November 2024, the internationally rewritten crime is depicted in a game series on Netflix, which has been given the title “Helicopter Robbery”. The series, which consists of eight parts, has been directed by Daniel Espinosawhose resume consists of hit films such as “Fast cash” and “Safe house”.
“All the good things I’ve done in my career are about describing the different aspects of the criminal world,” Espinosa told TT before the Netflix premiere and continued:
— I grew up among criminals and find it interesting to talk about this side of society, because I think it says something about what society is.
READ MORE: “Helicopter Robbery” on Netflix: Cast list, premiere and season 2
Daniel Espinosa. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT
In the main roles, as the characters Michel and Rami, we find Ardalan Esmaili and Mahmut Suvakci. And the fact is that the latter has a private connection with one of the real robbers, who was sentenced to a multi-year prison sentence.
READ MORE: All About Ardalan Esmaili: Children, Height and His Famous Wife
Ardalan Esmaili. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TTMahmut Suvakci. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TTMahmut Suvakci’s connection to helicopter robber Safa Kadhum
The convicted helicopter robber in question is Safa Kadhumwho is now 45 years old, released several years ago and unpunished since then, was involved in several robberies before the one against the G4S depot in Västberga in 2009.
Safa Kadhum. Photo: Fredrik Persson/TT
Among other things, he is said to have been involved in the planning of a serious robbery in 2002, but the police, who had spies on him and several others, struck before it was carried out. One of the men on trial, along with the convicted helicopter hijacker, was a relative of Mahmut Suvakci, according to The Express.
The relative denied the charges and was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT
For The entertainment guide Mahmut Suvakci has told that about the meeting with Safa Kadhum.
– Since it is a true story, it was important for me not to step on anyone’s toes. I really wanted to meet the real guy and learn more about him. He didn’t think this was a fun thing, that the series should be made. It has been difficult for him that he was involved in the robbery. He has served his sentence, gotten out and tried to re-enter the system a second time. He has children and is afraid it will bring back their memories. I promised him to do my best to do him justice.
The helicopter robbery was statute-barred in September 2024.
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