A thick pile of banknotes is exchanged between two young men outside a money bureau in Greenland in Oslo. The pile is as high as a simple crisp bread package. Then one enters the door of the money bureau, while the other waits outside. In the past year, news has visited the street environment in Greenland, and several times observed similar scenes at various money bureaus. In November 2023 alone, around NOK 83 million was sent abroad from Oslo in cash via money agencies, according to police calculations. – We were shocked when we saw the amount, and are very worried. That’s what Magne Løvø says, section leader in operative foreigners and the border section in the Oslo police district. They estimate that large parts of the money flow originate from crime, drugs and sex sales, and point out that there are few people who get paid in cash in Norway. The police say they have arrived at the sum after receiving an estimate from the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority, and then deducting it from what has gone out of the country electronically. Finanstilsynet tells news that they do not know the calculations or what estimates the police should have received, but confirms that there is a high risk of money bureaus being used for crime. Magne Løvø in the Oslo police district. Photo: Thomas Marthinsen Believes that home countries benefit from the flow of money Oslo police believe that the flow of money is one of the reasons why some countries in North Africa and Asia refuse to accept their citizens who are staying in Norway illegally after being refused asylum. – Several of those who live in the country illegally transfer large amounts to their home country. These countries are well served by continuing to send money, says Løvø. The police’s immigration unit informs news that as of 1 December 2023 there were just over 1,100 people in their portfolio who had an obligation to leave due to refusal of asylum. Almost 500 of them are registered as missing or with an unknown address. Løvø points out that having people living illegally is a major social problem. – It will be difficult to live illegally in Norway over time without committing crime. What should one live on? Unpopular with return agreements In the past year, news has become acquainted with several young men in the criminal environment in Greenland. They sell drugs and sex, and many send money to their families in their home countries. The police also know of individuals who have been illegally in Norway for 15-20 years, and it is difficult to get sent out of the country, because their home country will not accept them. – It is probably not the “street boys” who send so much money, says Guri Tyldum, researcher at the Trade Union Center for Research, Investigation and Documentation (Fafo). Fafo researcher Guri Tyldum. Photo: Arild Sandsvik She points out that the countries in question have many migrant workers to Europe. Many get jobs in, for example, agriculture or the construction industry, without having legal residence, and send money home. – That is why it is not so popular if the authorities cooperate with European countries on forced returns, she says. Tyldum also points out that it can be difficult to get some countries to cooperate on the return of people with drug problems and mental disorders. – The authorities in the home country like to say that they do not have the capacity to look after them. Several of the young men in the criminal community in Greenland came to Norway as unaccompanied underage asylum seekers. “The money that drives the crime” news has been in contact with the money agency Western Union about the matter. Their spokesperson in London writes in an e-mail that they are very concerned about combating criminal activity in their systems. In 2022 alone, they prevented criminal transactions worth a total of 1.3 billion dollars globally. Finanstilsynet established last year in a risk assessment for money laundering that foreign money agencies are often used to send money from crime abroad, particularly from drug sales, pimping and illegal work. – We are well aware of the risk that transfers may be linked to funds from criminal activity, especially when it involves cash, writes the Ministry of Finance in an e-mail to news. When asked whether money agencies should be more strictly regulated, the ministry points out that this must be weighed against the fact that parts of the population need to send money out of the country. – Cash is a valid means of payment with legitimate uses. A detailed regulation of how much cash can be sent would, among other things, have to be balanced against this, writes the ministry. Money agencies are used to send cash out of the country. The police believe much of it comes from criminal activity. Photo: Silje Rognsvåg / news Announces measures in Storting message – Money transfers from the diaspora are an important source of income from abroad for many developing countries, writes the Ministry of Justice to news. They point out that it is one of many reasons why certain countries do not want to establish return agreements with Norway. The government announces that it will come up with concrete measures related to the import and export of cash in an upcoming report to the Storting on economic crime. – It is the money that drives this crime. The government is concerned that crime should not pay, and that the money must be taken from the criminal circles in order to stop them, writes the Ministry of Justice.
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Several countries will not accept deported asylum seekers. The police believe the flow of money is the main reason. – news Vestland
