‘Cash for kill’ teen sent to Sydney by family after alleged Swedish gang links

After the boy’s parents sent him to Sydney for a fresh start, Danish police allegedly caught him trying to recruit killers online from a suburban home in the western suburbs.

A teen allegedly caught up in a “cash for kill” operation run from his relatives’ home in Sydney was moved to Australia by his worried parents after he allegedly fell into the Swedish underworld, leading to run-ins with police.

But just months after he arrived in Sydney from Sweden for the fresh start, the teen has ended up back in the sights of police, after Danish authorities allegedly uncovered he was recruiting contract killers on behalf of one the of the largest criminal gangs in the Scandinavian country.

Using encrypted messaging apps, the teen allegedly tried to hire hitmen to carry out a murder in Denmark on behalf of the gang, offering would-be killers 200,000 kronos (equivalent to $A48,000), and a gun to do the job.

The Swedish teen was arrested in Australia. Picture: AFP

However, police from Denmark’s National Special Crime Unit (NSK) became aware of his alleged recruitment drive and contacted the Australian Federal Police.

The AFP swooped on his relatives’ quiet, residential property on Wednesday, just days after receiving the Danish warning, arresting the boy and seizing his phones and a desktop computer.

While Danish police believe he was looking for hitmen amid the ongoing gang conflict in the Nordic countries, they say he was not at the top of the supply chain.

The NSK alleges there were several people controlling him and that it was “clear” he was not working alone.

“With the operation, we have taken a recruitment link in the crime chain out of play, but we are not done yet,” a spokesman for the NSK said of the Danish allegations.

“We also go after those we suspect of having controlled the 15-year-old.”

The teen’s computer was seized during raids on his relatives’ home. Picture: AFP

Danish police told international media they are handing their evidence over to Australian police, because the boy’s alleged crimes were committed in Sydney.

“Under Australian legislation, they cannot extradite individuals who have committed criminal acts on Australian soil.

“Therefore, we have entered into an agreement with Australia, which will take over the case. We will hand over the evidence,” NSK’s Deputy Chief Lars Feldt-Rasmussen said.

It’s understood Swedish police are also collaborating on the investigation, making it a multinational operation.

The boy – who is on remand in custody and facing the prospect of life in prison if convicted – was living in Sweden until around mid-last year, when his parents sent him to Australia to move away from gang life.

It’s understood there were several “preliminary investigations” in Sweden investigating his alleged gang ties.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as ‘Cash for kill’ teen sent to Sydney by family after alleged Swedish gang links