Norway seeks deeper cooperation with Morocco to tackle cross-border crime

OSLO – Norway is seeking to strengthen security and judicial cooperation with Morocco as it steps up efforts to pursue suspected members of transnational criminal networks believed to be operating from abroad, officials said.

The country’s National Criminal Investigation Service, Kripos, has called for a formal bilateral framework to accelerate legal cooperation and improve the targeting of key figures behind organised crime, particularly in drug trafficking.

Kristin Kvigne, Chief of Police at Kripos, said the agency has since 2022 urged Norwegian authorities to secure a higher level of cooperation with Morocco, but progress has been slow.

Norwegian police estimate that around 19 Norwegian citizens suspected of links to criminal networks are currently in Morocco. Nora Pedersen,  a Norwegian police attorney, said judicial requests sent to Moroccan authorities often face delays, largely due to the absence of a dedicated legal agreement that would streamline cooperation.

“Requests are processed, but very slowly,” she said, stressing that establishing a stronger legal framework remains a priority for Norwegian authorities.

Norway’s Ministry of Justice, however, said there is already effective cooperation with Morocco in combating serious cross-border crime, noting that existing international agreements provide a legal basis for judicial collaboration. Officials added that Moroccan authorities have responded to Norwegian requests, including in recent cases, and that there are no formal legal obstacles to cooperation.

Despite this, Oslo is seeking to deepen coordination through enhanced mechanisms and ongoing dialogue with Moroccan counterparts, aiming to improve the speed and efficiency of legal processes.

The push for closer ties comes as Norwegian authorities warn of evolving criminal networks that are increasingly operating across borders. A recent police report said such groups, particularly those involved in drug trafficking, have intensified their recruitment of minors.

The report highlighted the adaptability of these networks, noting that their leaders are often based abroad and frequently hold dual citizenship, complicating efforts to extradite them to Norway.

Cooperation between Norway and Morocco has expanded in recent years. In November, Morocco’s security chief Abdellatif Hammouchi met Norway’s police commissioner Hakon Skulstad during an Interpol meeting, where the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance operational coordination, intelligence sharing and joint efforts against organised crime.

Norwegian officials say strengthening partnerships with countries where suspects may be based is increasingly critical to tackling transnational crime, as criminal groups exploit jurisdictional gaps and global mobility to evade law enforcement.