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.[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
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.Explosive Investigation Files – Bushido and the Lebanese Extended Family In: Spiegel TV Magazin, April 21, 2013, retrieved January 20, 2019. 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.
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.
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.
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