The Abou–Chaker Network is a family-based criminal network where many leading members belong to a family/clan with the same name. The use of the family name to denote the criminal network does not imply that the clan itself is criminal or that all of its members are part of the criminal network.[1][2][3]
The network consists mostly of male members of the Palestinian Abou–Chaker family in Berlin, Lebanon, and Denmark. Police estimate that 200 to 300 members of the extended family live in Berlin. Parts of the family are involved in organized crime. Members engage in protection rackets, drug trafficking, arms dealing, money laundering, robbery, theft, pimping, and other serious crimes.[4][5] A court in Berlin has convicted several Abou–Chaker family members for attempting to sell a property with apartments they did not own using forged documents.[6]
The Abou–Chaker network had long business relations with gangster rapper Bushido, who later became a key witness in court proceedings against the clan for criminal charges that arose when the rapper attempted to end the collaboration, claiming that the Abou–Chakers took about 30% of his gross income.[7]
In September 2020, German police conducted raids on residences and businesses in 18 locations in Germany and Switzerland targeting the Abou-Chaker network with a force of 300 officers. The police investigation concerned tax evasion and money laundering.[8]
References
edit- ↑ [Case No. 140-2020 Police Authority's Handling of Personal Data on Family-Based Criminal Networks "Police Authority's Handling of Personal Data on Family-Based Criminal Networks"]. Swedish Security and Integrity Protection Board. 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
- ↑ Method Support for Family-Based Criminal Networks. Case number, matter HD5 800-127/2020, Document number 493. Swedish Police Authority, National Operational Department 2020-11-25. PDF
- ↑ "TV: The Networks Behind the Criminal Clans". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). TV: Sydsvenskan. April 15, 2021. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
- ↑ Explosive Investigation Files – Bushido and the Lebanese Extended Family In: Spiegel TV Magazin, April 21, 2013, retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ Online, FOCUS. "He Faces Jail Time: Notorious Clan Leader Abou-Chaker Must Go to Court". FOCUS Online (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-28.
- ↑ "'Clan Crime': The Who's Who of Germany's Most Notorious Crime Families". MSN. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
- ↑ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "New Hardness in the Fight Against Clan Crime | DW | 22.09.2020". DW.COM (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-28.
- ↑ "At Abou–Chakers: 300 Police Officers in Raid in Berlin and Brandenburg". FAZ.NET (in German). ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 2024-06-28.