Kurdish Fox's Murder Director Poya Shafie Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

Poya Shafie, described by police and prosecutors as one of the most central leaders of the immigrant-criminal Foxtrot network and a close ally of Rawa “The Kurdish Fox” Majid, has been sentenced to life in prison. Södertörn District Court finds that he played a commanding and coordinating role behind several of the serious violent crimes that marked the bloody conflict between the Foxtrot network and the rival Dalen network during 2023.

On Thursday, Södertörn District Court delivered its verdict against 30-year-old Foxtrot figure Poya Shafie. He is convicted of a series of very serious crimes connected to the wave of violence that hit Sweden during the gang conflict between the two immigrant-criminal gangs, the Foxtrot and Dalen networks.

The court finds that the criminality was exceptionally dangerous to society and that it exposed both targeted individuals and innocent people to significant risk. The severity of the crimes is considered so high that a fixed-term sentence is not deemed sufficient, leading to the penalty being set at life imprisonment.

Identified as Rawa ‘The Kurdish Fox’ Majid’s Right-Hand Man

For several years, Poya Shafie has been identified as one of the most influential people within the Foxtrot network. According to the investigation, he acted as a sort of coordinator and commander behind several of the violent crimes carried out during the network’s conflict with the Dalen network.

Shafie has also held a leadership position within the so-called Bro network, described as a closely allied group to Foxtrot. Prosecutors have claimed that from abroad, he has participated in planning, organizing, and directing serious violent acts in Sweden.

Evaded Capture in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran

After individuals connected to the Bro network became subjects of investigations into serious weapons offenses, Shafie left Sweden in 2022. That same year he was photographed together with Rawa Majid in Iraq.

According to police, he continued to operate from places such as Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, where, together with other leading Foxtrot figures, he is suspected of having remotely controlled parts of the network’s operations.

In the autumn of 2023, he was arrested by Iraqi authorities. After a longer period of detention in Iraq, he was extradited to Sweden in 2025, where he has been held in custody awaiting trial ever since.

Chats and Voice Messages Key Evidence

A central part of the investigation has been encrypted chats, mobile phones, and voice messages that police were able to link to several aliases allegedly used by Shafie, including the name “Hamado.”

During the trial, both text messages and voice recordings from Snapchat, Signal, and WhatsApp were presented. Prosecutors argued that the material showed how Shafie gave instructions, coordinated individuals, and participated in planning several serious crimes.

Shafie has denied all wrongdoing throughout the process.

Convicted of Numerous Serious Offenses

The court has convicted Shafie of the majority of the crimes charged by prosecutors. Among other things, he is found guilty of two counts of incitement to attempted murder, aiding and abetting attempted murder, two counts of aiding and abetting preparation for murder, two counts of incitement to attempted gross public destruction, incitement to a serious offense under the law on flammable and explosive goods, serious drug offenses, conspiracy to murder, and several serious weapons-related crimes.

At the same time, he is acquitted of two counts relating to preparation for murder and conspiracy to commit an exceptionally serious weapons offense. In those cases, the court found the evidence was insufficient for a conviction.

Tied to Several High-Profile Incidents

The investigation has linked Shafie to several serious crimes in Stockholm and Sundsvall during 2023, when the conflict between the Foxtrot and Dalen networks was at its peak. Among the incidents associated with him are the following:

In Stockholm: Attempted murder and murder plots in Skarpnäck in January 2023. Serious weapons crime in connection with a shooting in Enskededalen. Preparations for murder in Vällingby during spring 2023. A previous serious drug offense connected to cocaine handling.

In Sundsvall: Several attempted murders targeting individuals linked to the Dalen network. Bomb attacks and planned bombings at residences where intended targets or their relatives were present. Handling of explosives and dangerous goods in connection with the gang conflict. Planning of additional murders and violent acts during the first half of 2023.

According to prosecutors, these crimes were part of the Foxtrot network’s offensive against Dalen network rivals during a conflict that led to a large number of shootings, bombings, and attempted murders across the country.

Significant Verdict Against Gang Leadership

The verdict is seen as another example of Swedish authorities’ efforts to prosecute those suspected of directing serious organized crime from abroad.

In recent years, several high-ranking figures in Swedish criminal networks have been arrested or extradited from countries such as Turkey, Iraq, and Serbia. Authorities have described this development as the result of increasingly close international cooperation against cross-border gang crime.

Poya Shafie will remain in custody pending the finalization of his life sentence or review in a higher court.