In response to the alarming rise of violence-as-a-service (VaaS) and the exploitation of minors by organized crime syndicates, Europol has announced the formation of a new Operational Task Force (OTF) named GRIMM. This multinational initiative, spearheaded by Sweden, unites law enforcement agencies from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, with Europol providing operational support, threat analysis, and coordination.
The Emergence of Violence-as-a-Service
Violence-as-a-service represents a dangerous evolution in organized crime tactics, stated Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol. Criminal networks are deliberately targeting vulnerable young people to carry out violent acts while insulating themselves from prosecution.
Europol’s intelligence briefings reveal that organized crime groups are increasingly recruiting minors across Europe to perform serious crimes, including drug trafficking, extortion, and contract killings. These groups offer payments as high as €20,000 for killings and employ digital strategies to distance themselves from these activities.
The recently published EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA) 2025 report highlights this trend as part of what Europol describes as the changing DNA of serious and organised crime. The report indicates that minors are now involved in more than 70% of European criminal markets.
Objectives of OTF GRIMM
OTF GRIMM is set to focus on four strategic objectives:
1. Coordinate Cross-Border Intelligence Sharing and Joint Investigations: Enhancing collaboration among member states to effectively tackle VaaS networks operating across borders.
2. Map Recruitment Methodologies and Monetization Strategies: Understanding how criminal networks recruit minors and monetize their activities to develop targeted intervention strategies.
3. Identify and Dismantle VaaS Provider Networks: Targeting the infrastructure and key players facilitating violence-as-a-service operations.
4. Engage with Technology Companies: Collaborating with social media platforms and messaging services to detect and prevent online recruitment of minors.
The Recruitment of Minors
Investigations reveal that young perpetrators are being systematically recruited through social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps. Criminal organizations use sophisticated techniques, including coded language, gaming mechanics, and the glamorization of criminal lifestyles, to attract minors. By targeting this demographic, these organizations create multiple layers of insulation between high-level operators and actual criminal acts.
This isn’t random criminality—it’s a calculated business model, explained the head of Europol’s European Serious and Organised Crime Centre. These networks deliberately exploit legal protections for minors and their technical naivety to shield their operations from law enforcement.
Broader Shifts in Organized Crime
The trend reflects broader shifts in organized crime identified in Europol’s strategic analysis. Criminals now operate more like service providers, offering violence-on-demand to other criminal enterprises while maintaining operational security through youth recruitment.
OTF GRIMM builds on previous Europol initiatives targeting organized crime and represents a more focused response to the specific threat of youth exploitation in violent criminal activities. Law enforcement agencies across Europe have already begun coordinated actions under the taskforce framework, with initial operations targeting digital recruitment channels and known facilitators of violence-as-a-service networks.
Public Engagement and Reporting
The public is encouraged to report suspicious online recruitment activities to national law enforcement authorities. By staying vigilant and reporting potential exploitation, citizens can play a crucial role in combating the rise of violence-as-a-service and the exploitation of minors by organized crime groups.
