Danish police shut down hundreds of drug-dealing Snapchat profiles

Danish police have closed down hundreds of Snapchat profiles suspected of selling drugs, targeting digital narcotics trade ahead of major events like graduation celebrations and festivals, DR reports.

In Copenhagen alone, authorities have shut down 202 profiles in recent weeks, focusing on events such as student celebrations and the Copenhell music festival, according to Kasper Knudsen, section leader for digital drug trade at Copenhagen Police.

“We’ve tried to disrupt the businesses looking to profit from these events,” Knudsen said. “We know we can’t put them all in prison, but we want to stop them from selling illegal products.”

He noted that Snapchat users are frequently exposed to profiles selling hash, cocaine, prescription medication, nitrous oxide, and other substances. Once a user encounters such a profile, algorithms push more of them, he added.

“When Snapchat shuts down 202 profiles, it shows just how widespread this is.”

Acknowledging that dealers can quickly create new profiles, Knudsen said the operation aims to minimize drug sales opportunities, particularly during high-traffic events.

At Roskilde Festival, currently underway, Midt- og Vestsjællands Police have reported 182 profiles for closure, suspecting drug sales. Police commissioner Mathias Hindkjær said social media is a major platform for such trade.

“There’s a lot of selling on social media. We wanted to prevent it, so we’ve adopted a new method with the National Special Crime Unit to shut these profiles down,” Hindkjær said.

With 130,000 attendees, Roskilde temporarily becomes Denmark’s fourth-largest city, making it a hotspot for drug sales. Police receive daily reports of narcotics at the festival, primarily cannabis and hash, but also increasing cases of cocaine, ketamine, amphetamine, and opioids.

Beyond targeting Snapchat, police conduct on-site operations, including using drug-sniffing dogs and tent searches.

Henrik Vigh, a professor at the University of Copenhagen researching global crime, called the police action a positive step.

“I haven’t seen them do this much before. It makes sense for police to intervene where drug accessibility and sales are highest today.”

Vigh noted the drug market has shifted, with social media acting as a “digital supermarket” for ordering substances. Unlike traditional street dealing, transactions are now arranged flexibly without fixed locations, making policing more difficult.

His surveys at Roskilde Festival show Snapchat profiles actively target attendees, with some explicitly advertising to festival-goers.