– In a few minutes, anyone can buy and sell drugs on the pie network, on par with another e -commerce. This is what the police write in their threat assessment for 2025, which was published on Wednesday. In particular, drug networks are central to the development of organized crime in Norway. Sales of drugs have become far more accessible in recent years. While previously resorting to the dark network, sales have moved to platforms such as Snapchat, telegram and signal. Increase in violence assignments These platforms also act as a recruitment arena. Police see that, among other things, violence assignments are disseminated through social media. Over the past year, the violence assignments have become a greater commercial commodity on digital platforms, and is carried out by young perpetrators. Crime in 2024 The criminal development has risen since the pandemia. In the report, the police summarize last year’s crime picture as follows: Drugs: A steady increase in the proportion of drug seizures has been registered, and most seizures of cannavis and cocaine are made. An increase in seizures of synthetic substances in the group of nitazen have also been recorded, and several overdoses and deaths related to these. Anabolic steroids have also been registered in 2024. Violence offenses have increased from 2023 to 2024. Last year there were 37 killings in Norway, which is nine killings higher than the average in the last ten years. 65 percent of victims were killed by someone in a close relationship. There is also an increase in the number of attempted murder. Violence offenses have increased among children and adolescents under the age of 18 in recent years. The exercise of violence appears to a greater extent planned, and several carry weapons. Financial offenses: The number of reviews increased by 12 per cent from 2023 to 2024. Fraud accounted for 85 per cent of the offenses. It is believed to be large dark numbers. Winning offenses accounted for 36 per cent of all reported offenses in 2024. The increase applies in particular theft. At the same time, ransom cases have also increased in recent years. A large proportion have been committed by persons under the age of 18. Environmental crime such as nature offenses, fisheries offenses and animal welfare offenses have been stable. 2024 is the year with the lowest number in the last five years. Cybercrime consists of a wide range such as data breaches, theft of sensitive information, ransom virus and attacks on digital services. Defining the proportion of offenses is difficult, as they are registered across categories, but the police still see an increase in scope, and it is believed to be large numbers of darkness. There is a slight decline in sexual offenses, but according to the Ungvold study from 2023, the extent of sexual violence against children and young people has increased. About half of the cases in 2024 have children as victims, and the offenses occur both physically and digitally. The proportion of human trafficking has been stable for the last five years, but forced labor has gradually increased. However, there are large dark numbers here. Hat crime has increased over the last ten years. Police say it is uncertain whether this is due to a real increase, or that more reports now than before and that the police have got a better overview. The registered criminal cases are mostly about hate speech with a racist background. It is believed to be large dark numbers. An increase in minors has been registered that is commissioned to perform extortion, violence or murder. In many places in the country, more and more children and young people are being recruited into criminal environments, according to the report. The trend is also increasing elsewhere in Europe. Across national borders at the same time, criminal networks are collaborating across the Nordic countries. In last year’s threat assessment, the police expressed concern that Swedish actors carry out violence assignments in Norway. – In 2024, this has gone from being a concern to becoming an initial reality, they write in the report. Police on Wednesday present their threat assessment for 2025. Photo: Olav Døvik / news Sweden is the country that has had the most serious development in recent years. But activity has spread more and more the rest of Scandinavia in recent years. All police districts have reported several actors associated with Swedish networks, especially related to drug crime. It is expected that this threat will increase in the future, police say. – Norway continues to be an attractive market for the sale of drugs because the market price is higher and the possibility of profits is thus greater in Norway than in Sweden, the report states. The violence that is being carried out has also become more severe, with increased use of weapons. It also appears to a greater extent planned. Published 12.03.2025, at. 10.05 Updated 12.03.2025, at. 10.09
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