Europol’s Operational Taskforce (OTF) GRIMM has reported substantial progress in its first six months, making 193 arrests and targeting organised criminal networks involved in the rise of violence-as-a-service (VaaS). The taskforce has been crucial in dismantling groups that recruit young people to carry out violent crimes across Europe.

Launched in April 2025, OTF GRIMM focuses on combating VaaS, a growing trend where criminals outsource violent acts to hired individuals, often grooming or coercing young and inexperienced people. These recruited perpetrators are implicated in a wide spectrum of violent offenses, ranging from intimidation and torture to murder.

Initially emerging in Sweden, the phenomenon has now spread across the continent. In response, OTF GRIMM brought together expert investigators from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, along with Europol specialists and online service providers. The collective effort targets recruitment channels — primarily social media platforms — and aims to disrupt the operation of cross-border murder-for-hire services.

Key achievements in six months

The taskforce has mapped the main actors in the recruitment chain, from instigators to perpetrators, highlighting how these networks operate across borders.

Notable cases

Looking forward, OTF GRIMM will continue its fight against VaaS by disrupting service providers, enhancing cross-border intelligence sharing, and coordinating timely actions. Strengthening partnerships with technology companies is also a priority, aiming to detect and block recruitment efforts on social media and prevent the exploitation of young individuals by these criminal networks.