Norway and Sweden have announced plans to strengthen their cooperation in addressing gang-related criminal activities, responding to mounting evidence indicating that Swedish-based gangs

are exporting drug and firearm-related crimes into Norway. The police chiefs of both countries made this announcement on Wednesday.

During a joint press conference in Oslo, Anders Thornberg, Chief of Police in Sweden, and Benedicte Bjørnland, his Norwegian counterpart, revealed their intention to intensify the exchange of intelligence regarding individual gang members and criminal organizations. Additionally, they outlined a proposal to establish a new police station along the border, with one-half located in Sweden and the other in Norway.

Bjørnland emphasized the need for this collaborative effort, stating, "Norwegian criminals are procuring weapons and explosives from their Swedish counterparts. While Sweden has witnessed concerning trends in organized crime, there has also been a detrimental increase in criminal activities within Norway. In recent years, Swedish gang members have exhibited heightened involvement on Norwegian soil, including instances of hired individuals carrying out violent crimes."

Thornberg highlighted Sweden's distinct challenges in recent years, including an increase in shootings, explosions, fraud, and a rise in drug smuggling. He emphasized, "Crime transcends national boundaries. Sweden has encountered significant issues, but Norway could also face challenges if we do not join forces."

The proposed new police station will be situated on the border, spanning Sweden's Eda Municipality, with the facility divided equally between the two nations. Photo by Peter Isotalo, Wikimedia commons.