Criminal network based in Halden faces justice after lengthy appeals process

A criminal network based in Halden has profited at the expense of others for years, engaging in robberies, smuggling, and fraud that has cost individuals and businesses millions of kroner. In an interview, police described the group as “a danger to democracy.” In May of last year, key figures within the network received lengthy prison sentences, with the court confirming they were part of an organized criminal group.

Three individuals from the group appealed their sentences. The newly issued 141-page ruling from the court of appeals outlines the sentences handed down: the elder brother (38) received ten years and two months for serious drug offenses, customs violations, and grave firearms offenses; the younger brother (31) received seven years and six months for serious drug offenses and trafficking; and a woman in her twenties was sentenced to two years and ten months for her role in serious drug offenses. A man in his fifties also faced similar charges, while other members have multiple convictions in both Norway and Sweden.

Authorities have monitored this criminal environment for years, noting that many offenses occurred between 2012 and 2021. The police reported that much of the network’s crime has ties to operations in Sweden, where significant criminal activities have also transpired.

Significant seizures of illegal weapons have been made, along with the confiscation of 190,000 smuggled cigarettes. The two brothers, along with associates, were arrested in Sweden in 2021 and are now subject to the forfeiture of 7 million kroner worth of assets, with additional items used in their criminal activities also being seized. The prosecution emphasized the importance of detecting, investigating, and prosecuting such crimes effectively.