Three gang-affiliated 'Swedes' deported from Norway for life

Three Swedish citizens with links to criminal networks have been permanently deported from Norway, despite not having been convicted of crimes in the country. According to Norway’s Directorate of Immigration (UDI), the men are considered to pose a real, immediate, and serious threat to fundamental societal interests.

The Agder police district announces that the three Swedish citizens have already been transported out of Norway. They have been given lifetime entry bans, and anyone who violates the ban risks up to two years in prison.

The police do not want to disclose which criminal network in Sweden the individuals are linked to or their backgrounds, if other than Swedish. The authority also does not provide any details about the ongoing investigation, citing investigative reasons.

UDI: Serious threat to society

The decision on deportation was made by the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), based on information from the Agder police. The police press release states that the UDI, based on police information, has assessed that all three Swedish citizens have personal circumstances that constitute “a real, immediate, and serious threat to fundamental societal interests.”

The UDI also determined that there was no support for the three having a legitimate purpose for their stay in Norway.

New directive used in Agder for the first time

The deportations are the first in Agder where police have used a new directive from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, dated January 23, 2026. The directive applies to EEA citizens who are assessed as posing a particularly serious criminal threat linked to organized crime, even without a Norwegian conviction.

Per Juell Larsen, head of Agder Police’s unit for foreigners’ affairs, administration, and civil law, describes the decision as historic.

“With this, we have quickly and effectively limited their scope for action in criminal environments and networks in Norway, before the investigation against them in Agder is completed and without them being convicted in Norway,” he says in the press release.

Freedom of movement can be restricted

EEA citizens basically have the right to free movement and residence in Norway. However, that right can be restricted if public order or security considerations require it.

According to the new directive, a connection to criminal networks and the assessment that the individuals pose an exceptional criminal threat are among the requirements.