Criminal networks recruit children: Red alarm level in Sweden!

Criminal networks recruit children: Red alarm level in Sweden!

Örebro, Schweden - A shocking case from Sweden shows how criminal gangs recruit the contract killers who had become younger and younger. An eleven -year -old boy made headlines on Instagram with the words: "Brother, I can't wait to see my first body." He was contacted by a 19-year-old gang member, who offered him 150,000 crowns (around 13,000 euros) for a murder, even including transport and clothing for use. This information comes from the police investigation acts in the province of Värmland, which the AFP news agency could see. The boy was not alone, because three other minors were also gliding before the crimes could take place. The case illustrates the desperate effects of the growing gang crime in Sweden, where 53 people died in shootings in 2023, including innocent civilians.

a shocking phenomenon

According to Johan Olsson, the head of the national police, the gangs prove to be complex organizations: the bosses act from abroad and recruit adults such as Telegram, which are not punishable due to their age. The number of murder cases in which a suspect is less than 15 years old has increased dramatically in Sweden: from 31 cases in the first eight months of 2023 to 102 in the same period 2024. Criminology professor Sven Granath refers to the role of "Crimefluencern" on platforms such as Tikok, which not only represent a criminal life, but also contact between clients and young criminals produce. These children are often affected by problems at school or have difficulties with abnormalities or social adjustments.

In order to counteract this devastating development, volunteers are committed to disadvantaged quarter to clarify young people about the dangers of gang recruitment. The National Council for crime prevention reports that many children are looking for money and belonging and selecting orders themselves. Like Tony Quiroga, a police officer in Örebro, put it: "It is an unscrupulous exploitation of young people who are just beginning to live their lives." In order to close the gap between these endangered young people and a safe growing up, child and youth welfare is required to provide effective support structures, as is set in § 1 SGB VIII to help them lead a self-determined and responsible life. As Kinder-jugendhilfe.info only has to make interventions if the safety of the children is at risk.