Organised crime groups in Iceland have grown significantly over the past decade, with police warning that vulnerable individuals are increasingly being targeted.
As reported by RÚV, a new report from the National Commissioner of Police outlines a marked escalation in criminal group activity and visibility over the last five years.
According to the report, Iceland is now home to around 20 organised crime groups, roughly double the number recorded ten years ago. Membership varies from three to twenty individuals.
The rise is tied to growing cross-border operations, with criminal networks now routinely moving drugs, weapons, stolen goods, and illicit capital between countries.
Crossing borders
“Iceland’s geographical isolation has long been a deterrent to the activities of organized crime groups, but that has changed in recent times,” the report states. “Today, the vast majority of organized crime groups operate across borders… The border therefore plays a major role in the crime chain of criminal groups in this country.”
Police note an increase in both the severity of violence and the sophistication of criminal methods, including encrypted communication tools, targeted recruitment, and more aggressive marketing strategies. The report also highlights growing links between organised crime, terrorism, and foreign states.
Asylum applicants are described as particularly at risk, with criminal groups known to seek them out in government accommodation. Signs of human trafficking are also increasing.
The Intelligence Department stresses the need for stronger technological capabilities, expanded cybercrime capacity, and continued investment in anti-money-laundering efforts.
