Drug raid in Tromsø: professor warns of short-lived effect after 15 arrests
Police in Tromsø arrested 15 people and seized six kilograms of narcotics. A professor at the Police University College doubts the lasting impact.
Professor: new players quickly fill the void after Tromsø raid
Police in Tromsø arrested 15 people on Tuesday suspected of belonging to a criminal drug network, and seized six kilograms of narcotics – mainly amphetamine and cocaine – as well as 190,000 kroner in cash. NRK Norge reports that police themselves describe those arrested as central figures in the network.
Prosecutor Trude Kvanli, head of prevention and investigation Anita Hermansen and police chief Astrid Nilsen held a press conference about what they called a serious development in Tromsø. Police expressed hope that removing the organisers would make drug crime less attractive in the region.
Paul Larsson, professor at the Police University College, is not convinced that the operation will produce lasting results.
"There is little evidence that by removing one, two or three central networks in Norway, you will do anything other than have a temporary effect. New players quickly enter the market, and then you are back where you were," says Larsson.
He points to high demand and a market saturated with available cocaine as reasons why the problem is difficult to dampen. According to Larsson, drug problems are too extensive for the police and customs authority to handle alone.
"It is relatively easy to get cocaine now, and there has been a flood of cocaine across all of Europe in recent years. It is a fixed strategy from some operators, who are now importing larger quantities to Europe," he says.
He adds that Europe appears to be an attractive market for international drug suppliers, since the USA is considered a saturated market.
NRK has been in contact with people familiar with the local drug scene in Tromsø. They confirm that access to drugs is very good, but no one wishes to be interviewed.
At the café of Kirkens Bymisjon in Tromsø, they have seen a sharp increase in the number of visitors in recent years. Approximately half the guests use illegal drugs. Daily manager Birgit Agnete Bråthen Lockertsen emphasises that drug addicts will obtain drugs regardless.
"These are people who are dependent and need to get hold of it anyway," says Lockertsen.
She believes society must change its focus if drug use is actually to decrease, and points to a different group than the traditional drug scenes.
"The groups one should really concentrate on to reduce drug abuse are more the 'fine culture' in society. Go to the university and look among the students, or people who are in full employment, who use drugs as party drugs. I really wish we could get a grip on that," she says.
Tom Inge Tilley Jensen, head of the organised crime section in Tromsø police district, defends the operation to NRK, even though he acknowledges that it does not solve the problem alone.
"It is important to send a clear signal to criminals that breaking the law also has consequences here, and that their actions will be prosecuted," writes Jensen.
"At the same time, we must acknowledge that the drug problem is far more complex than being able to solve it by removing one player," he adds.
Source: NRK Norge