Europol raises alarm: Criminal networks are recruiting more and more young people, international task force is being created

Organized crime networks are using increasingly aggressive tactics to recruit young people into illegal activities, Europol has warned, announcing the creation of a new task force to combat this growing phenomenon.

The new Operational Task Force, known as “OTF GRIMM,” is led by Sweden and includes law enforcement agencies from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway. Its aim is to crack down on the recruitment of young people into crimes such as drug trafficking, online fraud, cyberattacks and violent extortion.

According to Europol, recruitment often takes place online, with young people being mentored by members of criminal networks. In some cases, they are forced to commit murder as part of their recruitment. These young people are used as “shields” by the leaders of the networks, becoming useful barriers between the authorities and the main organizers, who in this way avoid identification and punishment.

"Criminals see young people as replaceable and low-risk. They are used to commit crimes without exposing the leadership structures of the organizations," Europol said in a statement.

At the same time, the European security agency has published a list of alerts for parents, advising them to be alert to changes in children's behavior:

-Use of encrypted communication applications, without clear explanation.

-New behaviors and changes in values ​​for no apparent reason.

-Frequent lies or avoiding questions.

-New friendships with older people who are not known to the family.

-New objects (clothes, technology, money) without a clear source.

-Lack of need for money, although they have unexplained financial resources.

-Detaching from daily routine – dropping out of school, low interest in previous hobbies or friends.

Europol appeals for widespread awareness and inter-institutional cooperation to protect young people from organized crime circles and to eradicate this growing danger that is threatening the future of the younger generation. 

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