Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Sunday evening that state investigators and Oslo police have arrested 47 people in recent months on charges of planning murders, illegal possession of firearms and narcotics-related violations. It’s all aimed at exposing and cracking down on criminal networks that can lead to prison terms of up to 10 years or more.
Police in Oslo are cracking down on criminal networks that can also extend beyond the capital. PHOTO: Politiets fellesforbund
Lengthy undercover police investigations began in 2024 with what NRK called a “clear goal:” To arrest as many suspects as possible believed to have ties to the criminal networks. That includes everyone from errand boys to their recruiters and those behind what Norwegian law defines as a drapsforbund, literally a “murder federation.”
Among those arrested is at least one former gang leader and others with criminal records involving violent offenses. Police have also seized 15 weapons, NOK 5 million in cash and narcotics, in at least one case after covertly filming suspects meeting in a parking garage and testing out firearms.
Investigators consider it all a threat to national security and their probes and arrests are extending to several other locations outside Oslo and in both Northern- and Southern Norway. Much of the crime carried out around the country stems from organizers in Oslo, they believe.
“That’s led to us cooperating on a larger scale with other police districts, because of the higher concentration on breaking up criminal networks,” Kenneth Wilberg, chief of the police intelligence operations in Oslo, told NRK.
Police told NRK that they’ve charted as many as 120 various criminal networks operating in Oslo alone, 50 of which involve as many as 800 people tied to narcotics, violence and illegal weapons. The police crackdown is funded through a special state budget allocation last year of NOK 600 million (USD 60 million) that’s part of a national effort against criminal networks.
NewsinEnglish.no staff