The Storting building in June 2024. Source: Wikimedia Commons, Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0
“It is completely unbelievable that it is possible,” says parliamentary politician Bent-Joacim Bentzen. After the revelation that a drug dealing operation was run from prison, the party is demanding that the Minister of Justice take action.
The SP politician is reacting to the fact that a convicted person is said to have organised a drug dealing operation from his cell in Bodø.
False political correctness led the author of the publication below to ignore the fact that smuggling mobile phones into prisons is only possible with the help of corrupt prison staff. An incorrect diagnosis generally leads to the wrong treatment.
In November, the police and the Norwegian Criminal Investigation Service discovered a drug transport route between Eastern Norway and Northern Norway.
The police seised a large amount of cocaine and several people were arrested.
One of them is already serving a long sentence for drug crimes. The police believe he ran the operation from his cell.
Police In Nordland Uncover Drug Transport Route
After a review of mobile data, the name of the person in question has emerged. In addition, the investigation revealed that the inmate had a mobile phone in his cell.
Illegal mobile phones are a growing problem in Norwegian prisons.
From 2023 to 2024, the number of seised phones in Norwegian prisons increased from 125 to 181.
Cartel Activity From Norwegian Prisons
Bentzen believes the Norwegian Prison Service must be given more tools to overcome the situation.
“It is quite obvious that a better system must be put in place so that cartel activity cannot be carried out from Norwegian prisons.”
He suggests stricter control and believes that the Storting must consider a change in the law.
Although it is illegal to bring a mobile phone into Norwegian prisons, they do not risk additional punishment if they are caught.
Denmark is one of the countries that has introduced a ban that makes it a criminal offense to have mobile phones in prison.
Assistant Director of KDI Jan-Erik Sandlie has also stated that Norway should discuss a change in the law.
“There is no bill in the works, but it is something that is being discussed in the Norwegian Correctional Service, whether a legal ban should be considered that makes it a criminal offense to have a mobile phone in prison. The feedback from Denmark is that it has had a good effect,” Sandlie told NRK.
NRK has sent several questions to the Norwegian Correctional Service about the case. They will not answer because it is under investigation.
Completely Unacceptable
State Secretary Gunn Karin Gjul also does not want to comment on the incident, but emphasises that it is not allowed to use mobile phones in Norwegian prisons.
“The prison has several homes to prevent and uncover illegal objects. Nevertheless, we are aware that illegal objects, such as mobile phones, have nevertheless been smuggled into the prison.”
“It is of course completely unacceptable that inmates in prison are involved in new crimes.”
Gjul believes that the Norwegian Correctional Service has been downgraded over time, which has led to staffing challenges, among other things.
To reverse the trend, the government proposes to allocate 180 million kroner to increase staffing, recruitment and increased admission of prison officers.
“Regarding control measures in prison, the Norwegian Correctional Service is now working on reviewing the regulations.”
So: NRK (in Norwegian)