Police in southern Norway have charged two teenage boys with involvement in organized crime. The suspects are aged 16 and 17.
Authorities confirm they prevented what appears to be a contract violence assignment. The teens allegedly communicated with criminal networks about carrying out a paid violent act.
Police became aware of the plot through intercepted communications. They launched an investigation that led to the arrests.
Prosecutor Thea Severine Hanken Hobbesland confirmed the charges but declined to provide specifics. She cited the ongoing investigation as reason for limited details.
Both teenagers deny criminal guilt through their legal representatives. The 16-year-old's lawyer acknowledged her client had contact with people in criminal networks.
She noted similarities to other cases involving youth recruitment. The exposure of how young people connect with criminal environments serves a positive purpose, she added.
The case is being investigated as "crime as a service." This model involves criminal networks outsourcing violent acts to others, often young people.
Norwegian police express concern about this trend spreading to local youth. In recent years, Swedish children have carried out similar contract violence in Norway.
At least 20 Norwegian teenagers have been linked to violence assignments this year alone. The head of Norway's criminal investigation service called this development a tactical shift in organized crime.
She warned that criminal networks now reach many children and young people with offers to commit serious violence. The situation is more severe than most people realize, officials stated.
Police continue investigating who else might be involved beyond the two charged teenagers. The case highlights growing concerns about criminal networks recruiting minors across Nordic countries.
This represents a disturbing evolution in organized crime tactics where vulnerable youth become pawns in violent schemes that carry minimal risk for the actual organizers.