Gangs Recruit Children as Contract Killers in Sweden – Investigation

An alarming investigation has revealed that criminal gangs in Sweden are recruiting children as young as 11 to carry out murders as contract killers. The recruitment often happens through encrypted messaging apps such as Telegram, Snapchat, and Signal, where gang leaders, sometimes operating from abroad, use online platforms to target minors under the age of 15, who cannot be prosecuted as adults.

A chilling exchange between an 11-year-old boy and a 19-year-old gang member was discovered in a police investigation in the western province of Värmland. The boy, in a message on Instagram, stated, “Bro, I can’t wait for my first dead body.” The older contact responded, “Stay motivated, it’ll come,” and offered the child 150,000 kronor ($13,680) to carry out a murder, along with clothes and transportation to the crime scene.

The police investigation led to the arrest of four men, aged 18 to 20, who are accused of recruiting minors between 11 and 17 to carry out crimes for their gang. Screenshots of the youngsters posing with weapons, some wearing masks, were found on their phones. The 11-year-old told police he wrote the message to appear “cool” and not show fear.

This incident is part of a wider trend in Sweden, where gang violence, including shootings and bombings, has surged in recent years. The country’s criminal gangs are often involved in disputes over the drug trade and score-settling, with innocent victims becoming casualties of these violent conflicts. In 2023, 53 people were killed in gang-related shootings, many in public spaces.

Sweden’s gang crime is complex, with leaders operating from abroad, often via encrypted communication. Recruitment of young people is organized like a “job market,” according to Johan Olsson, head of Sweden’s National Operations Department. The recruits, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, may not even be members of a gang but are hired as mercenaries to carry out violent acts.

The number of murder-related cases involving suspects under 15 years old rose significantly from 31 in the first eight months of 2023 to 102 in the same period of 2024. Many of these children are struggling with school issues, addiction, or previous encounters with the law. Some are drawn into gangs by the promise of money, recognition, or a sense of belonging, while others seek out the contracts themselves.

Viktor Grewe, a former gang member, expressed sadness over the growing trend. He explained that some “crimfluencers” on social media glorify criminal lifestyles, making it seem aspirational. He emphasized the tragic shift in aspirations for many young people, where “everybody wants to be a murderer.”

Tony Quiroga, a police commander in Orebro, highlighted the “ruthless exploitation” of these young recruits by criminal gangs, who protect themselves by using pseudonyms and hiding behind social media profiles. Volunteers in neighborhoods affected by gang violence are working to warn young people about the dangers of joining gangs, but the issue persists.

For many young recruits, gang life offers a sense of identity, though it comes with a high price. Grewe, who left gang life behind at 22, said that young criminals often don’t expect to live beyond the age of 25. The National Council for Crime Prevention (BRA) notes that recruiting children is now a standard part of gang operations, with older members often recruiting even younger children.

The situation remains dire, with police struggling to contain a cycle of violence and exploitation that shows no signs of ending.