Around 300 individuals linked to organized crime have been arrested in a major international operation led by Sweden, with support from Europol and multiple European partners.
Swedish police said the operation was carried out by a specialized task force known as “Grimm,” launched in April 2025 to tackle the rising phenomenon of “violence as a service,” where individuals, often minors, are recruited online to carry out criminal acts.
The initiative involves cooperation between Sweden, Europol and 10 European countries, including Germany, France and Spain, reflecting growing concern over cross-border criminal networks.
According to authorities, 280 suspects were detained globally during the first year of operations, with more than half linked to Swedish criminal networks. Reports from SVT indicate that a small number of those arrested were children aged between 10 and 12.
The trend has raised alarm in Sweden, where gangs increasingly exploit legal loopholes by recruiting children below the age of criminal responsibility, set at 15. These minors are typically handled by social services rather than prosecuted, making them attractive targets for criminal groups.
Officials say recruitment is often conducted through social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps. In response, law enforcement has intensified engagement with major technology companies, including Google, Meta, TikTok and Snap Inc., to curb online recruitment efforts.
While authorities described cooperation with some firms as encouraging, they stressed that additional action is needed, noting that not all platforms have agreed to participate.
In a separate statement, Europol said its “EU Most Wanted” platform played a key role in tracking fugitives involved in the network.
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