Organized crime syndicates are increasingly turning to social media platforms to recruit children as young as 11 years old for contract killings. This alarming development has been highlighted by recent police investigations and reports from criminology experts.
According to Johan Olsson, head of the Swedish police's National Operations Department (NOA), these gangs operate with a high level of sophistication, often orchestrating their activities from abroad. "It is organized as a kind of job market where missions are published on discussion forums, and the people accepting the assignments are increasingly young," Olsson stated last month.
The recruitment process is facilitated through encrypted messaging apps like Telegram, Snapchat, and Signal, allowing gang leaders to remain anonymous while exploiting vulnerable youths. The number of murder-related cases involving suspects under the age of 15 has surged dramatically, rising from 31 in the first eight months of 2023 to 102 in the same period this year, according to the Prosecution Authority.
Children drawn into these criminal networks often face challenging personal circumstances, including struggles in school, addiction issues, or previous legal troubles. Criminology professor Sven Granath from Stockholm University noted, "They are recruited into conflicts they have no connection to -- they're just mercenaries."
The allure of quick money, flashy clothes, and a sense of belonging entices many of these young recruits. Viktor Grewe, a former gang member who had his first encounter with the law at 13, expressed his dismay, saying, "It's incredibly sad to see that this is what kids aspire to," highlighting the influence of "crimfluencers" who glorify criminal lifestyles on platforms like TikTok.
In Orebro, a city west of Stockholm, police commander Tony Quiroga described the situation as "ruthless exploitation of young people." He explained that criminal subcontractors avoid taking risks themselves by hiding behind pseudonyms and using multiple layers of communication filters. Volunteers in disadvantaged neighborhoods are now patrolling the streets, attempting to steer youths away from the clutches of these gangs.
Despite efforts to curb this trend, the challenge remains daunting. As Quiroga lamented, the police are up against conflicts "that never end," with children recruiting even younger peers into the cycle of crime.
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