Denmark alarmed by recruitment of young Swedes into gangs via social media

Officials in Denmark have expressed alarm over the recruitment of young Swedes by gangs through social media, describing the situation as “completely absurd.” Preben Bang Henriksen, a spokesperson for the Liberal Party, emphasized that this trend is unprecedented and deeply troubling. Recent evidence has shown that Danish organized crime groups are willing to pay young individuals to carry out illegal activities, ranging from minor offenses to serious crimes, including murder.

The police have observed an increase in young Swedish citizens engaging in violent crime in Denmark, with reports of them possessing weapons. Torben Svarrer, the director of the National Special Crime Unit (NSK), acknowledged the unsettling trend and reported that young criminals are not escaping severe penalties in Denmark.

Criminologist David Sausdal from Lund University indicated that the practice of offering tasks via social media has become more pronounced in Sweden, with most gang recruitment now occurring digitally. This method is relatively new in Denmark, but it poses significant risks by potentially drawing more individuals into gang environments and complicating law enforcement efforts.

In recent days, two underage Swedish citizens were arrested in connection with attempted murder in Denmark, indicating that this recruitment trend is not just limited to urban areas like Copenhagen but is also spreading to Jutland.

Henriksen warns against allowing such practices to establish a foothold in Denmark, insisting that measures must be taken to prevent the normalization of similar conditions. He plans to discuss these issues with the Justice Minister after the summer, advocating for enhanced police efforts focusing on social media-related crime, given the growing digital dimension of gang activities.