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On Thursday, the Troms police sent out a press release stating that they had revealed the organized transport of drugs to northern Norway. A total of eleven people are charged in the case.
In a coordinated operation in May and June, the police arrested two people in Oslo, including the alleged director, four in Bodø and five in Harstad.
The police operation was called “Operation Endex”.
ACTIONED: The police took action against eleven people this summer, says Yngve Myrvoll in the police Photo: Jan-Morten Bjørnbakk / NTB
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The head of the Joint Intelligence, Prevention and Investigation Unit, Yngve Myrvoll in the Troms police district, tells Dagbladet that the investigation began last fall.
– It started with a general concern about drugs and youth in the Harstad area. We saw an increase and got information that things are happening. Then we are interested in the actors that are charged today, he says.
The police have used undercover investigative methods in the search for the drug ring.
– We have used what we have available in the toolbox. Also hidden methods, such as reconnaissance and wiretapping.
APPEARED ENTERING THE INTESTINE: Police believe this drug was smuggled into someone’s rectum. Photo: Police
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Great values
Myrvoll cannot go into the specific number of seizures, but says it is several kilos of hashish, and “quite a lot” of pills and amphetamines. The network that police believe they have discovered has sold drugs by the millions, according to Myrvoll.
– The special thing about this case is that there is not a single seizure. The first case is from 2015, he says.
Several of the defendants have been convicted of serious drug-related crimes in the past. Several are also not legally resident in Norway.
– There are some immigration cases. Two of the eleven remain in prison, where this is part of the concern. The two also had the most central roles. Some have been much more involved than others.
SUITCASE: Hashish hardware made in a suitcase. Photo: Police
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He does not want to go into whether the case is related to known criminal backgrounds, but says the defendants are of the same ethnicity.
– There are several in Tromsø and Harstad that are affiliated with local asylum reception centers. Several are of Iranian origin. There are some of Syrian origin, who are Norwegian citizens. Then there are two Norwegian citizens who live in Harstad.
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– Pointing towards Sweden
All have been questioned by the police. It is unclear how they reacted to the accusation.
The investigation is now complete and the case will be sent to the prosecutor.
– Have you taken the whole network?
– It’s hard to say. We have investigated clues that point to Sweden. There is always someone behind a sponsor. Mainly we have discovered approx. 20 courier assignments from Oslo and the north.
– What clues point towards Sweden?
– I can’t say that, but it has to do with actors.
Dagbladet has asked the police for a list of all defenders, but has yet to receive it.
