Icelandic criminal groups cooperate in ways unseen abroad

Criminal groups in Iceland cooperate across boundaries in a way that is “completely unknown in other countries,” making their increasingly loose structures harder for police to tackle, Karl Steinar Valsson told mbl.is.

Valsson, a chief superintendent and director of the National Commissioner of Police’s security and analysis division, said there were many criminal groups in Iceland. The latest analysis department report on organised crime referred to about 20 groups. He said the number might rise in the next report, though that was not certain.

He cited Albanian groups as an example of organised crime in Iceland. While such groups generally do not work with others, police have seen them cooperate with people of other nationalities in Iceland. Similar developments have appeared among other groups, he said.

Valsson warned against assuming that criminal groups have clearly defined structures, with an identifiable leader and set roles for each member. Their connections have become looser, and individuals can be replaced easily. A person may take on a particular task and then disappear from the picture, he said.

He said police had struggled to persuade courts that cases fall under the legal provisions on organised criminal groups. Courts do not always agree with police that groups have committed crimes in an organised way under the legal definition. As a result, individuals can be convicted without the increased penalties that may apply to organised crime.

Valsson said criminal groups obtain help to understand the legal framework, and confirmed that lawyers provide such assistance. He did not name any lawyers or describe specific wrongdoing by them.

He said he did not see major weaknesses in the legal framework overall, but the provisions had not worked as hoped. Draft amendments have been put forward, and he said the law must be updated more quickly as the groups’ operating environment changes rapidly.

International cooperation is essential, he said. People supporting criminal activity may be abroad, and crimes may be committed partly outside Iceland and partly within the country. In some cases, Iceland’s connection may be limited to hosting online content.