Violence-as-a-Service: Encrypted Apps Used in Recruiting Teens as Hitmen

European law enforcement agencies, led by Denmark and Sweden, are intensifying their fight against a disturbing new criminal trend: the online recruitment of young people, some as young as 14, to carry out contract killings. This practice, termed violence-as-a-service, sees criminal groups using encrypted online platforms to offer money for shootings, often across national borders.

As per Europol’s press release, recent efforts, spearheaded by Denmark’s National Special Crime Unit and the Swedish Police, have led to several arrests. Following investigations into violent acts, including a shooting in Kokkedal on May 7, 2025, seven individuals, aged between 14 and 26, have either been arrested or surrendered from countries like Sweden and Morocco.

Among those caught are two 18-year-old men from Western Sweden, suspected of actively recruiting youngsters for these deadly tasks. Authorities indicate that some suspects also provided weapons, ammunition, and safe places for these young attackers.

This alarming development has prompted a stronger international response. Europol launched Operational Taskforce (OTF) GRIMM in April 2025 to directly address the use of encrypted services for coordinating contract killings across Europe. The task force now includes Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland (the latest country to join), the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Europol itself, with more nations expected to join soon.

Andy Kraag, Head of Europol’s European Serious Organised Crime Centre, highlighted the severity, stating, “Teenagers being paid to pull the trigger, this is what organised crime looks like in 2025. This is calculated outsourcing of murder by criminal networks that treat human lives as disposable assets.”

This isn’t the first time online platforms have been exploited for grave crimes. As Hackread.com recently reported that the global 764 network child abuse ring, led by individuals like Leonidas Varagiannis (21) and Prasan Nepal (20), also used encrypted apps to orchestrate horrific exploitation.

This past case, resulting in arrests in the US and Greece, underscores a persistent challenge: the anonymous nature of digital spaces can facilitate serious criminal activity, including those involving minors.

Europol encourages parents and communities to look for early signs of criminal recruitment, such as sudden behavioural changes or unexplained wealth, offering guides for protection. Law enforcement continues to track the masterminds behind these operations, aiming to dismantle their hidden online infrastructure.