Swedish teenagers recruited by Danish gangs for murder in 25 incidents since April

A troubling phenomenon is emerging in the criminal underworld: Swedish teenagers are being recruited online by Danish gangs to commit murder. Since April of this year, there have been 25 instances where criminal groups have hired Swedes to carry out illicit activities in Denmark.

Sociologist and author Aydin Soei, who has been studying the Danish gang scene since the early 2000s, expresses concern over this development. He notes that while gun violence is not as frequent as in the initial years of gang conflicts, when shootings do occur, they are aimed at killing.

Soei points out that the situation has become more unpredictable, as gangs no longer have the same strong local ties they once did. “Today, gangs are much more fluid and mobile, which makes it less predictable. You can’t anticipate where you’re going to get shot, and incidents are happening over a larger geographic area,” he explains.

He emphasizes that there are currently fewer gang members than a decade ago; however, the environment has become harsher, and firearms have become an entrenched part of gang culture. “When I interviewed gang members in the 2000s, I could approach them and say, ‘Excuse me, would you talk to me?’ I wouldn’t dare to do that today,” he remarks.