Minors exploited for crime as Iceland’s organized criminal activity rises

There are indications that minors are being exploited to commit crimes in Iceland, according to an assistant chief of police in the national police’s intelligence department. The police have observed an increase in organized criminal activity in the country, which has raised concerns from the Minister of Justice.

Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, the Minister of Justice, noted that foreign gangs are increasingly targeting Iceland and attempting to recruit youth for criminal activities. In response to this troubling trend, she has finalized a new border policy aimed at tightening control at Iceland’s borders.

Runólfur Þórhallsson, the assistant chief of police, echoed the Minister’s concerns, emphasizing that Iceland has enjoyed low crime rates for decades. He remarked that the current trajectory of organized crime appears to be worsening. “We are seeing a negative trend in this regard,” he stated.

There has been a notable rise in crime groups utilizing young people to commit offenses, including more serious violent crimes in neighboring countries like Sweden and Denmark. While evidence of similar activities in Iceland remains limited, authorities have received reports suggesting minors are increasingly involved in relatively minor offenses, with more severe cases noted in those countries.

Runólfur expressed hopes that the implementation of the new Entry/Exit system, which is part of the new border policy, will aid in managing these challenges. He underscored the need for a strong police presence at both the borders and within the country to effectively tackle the issue of organized crime exploiting minors.