Swedish Gangs Recruit Norwegian Children for Serious Crimes

Politicians are investing heavily in fighting back against gangs. But it is unclear how effective the methods are. Sweden is now being criticized in a new report for lacking the ability to scientifically evaluate crime prevention efforts. “It’s like steering a ship and turning a blind eye at the same time,” says Amir Rostami, professor of criminology.

Norwegian youth are being recruited by Swedish gangs, reports TV2. The Norwegian National Criminal Police, Kripos, has spent the past six months investigating how children and young people are being recruited through social media to commit serious crimes such as murder and kidnapping.

Swedish criminal gangs are turning to Norwegian children for murder and kidnapping missions, among other things. This is revealed in a survey by Kripos, the Norwegian equivalent of Noa. – It is something that I am concerned about, says Norway's Minister of Justice Astri Aas-Hansen to TV2.

Swedish gang crime has become an export commodity. In Norway, the Swedish trend of very young perpetrators of serious violent acts has begun to spread. “It is a development that we have not seen before,” says Kristin Kvigne, the head of the Norwegian National Criminal Police Kripos, when she visits Stockholm.