On April 29, 2025, Europol launched a multinational initiative called 'GRIMM' aimed at combating gangs that recruit children for violent crimes, including murder.

This operation is spearheaded by Sweden and includes collaboration from police forces across Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.

Gangs are increasingly using coded language on social media and messaging apps to target minors, enticing them with promises of significant financial rewards.

Once recruited, these children are exploited for various illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, violent extortion, and even contracted killings.

In response to this alarming trend, Europol has provided guidance to parents, advising them to be vigilant for subtle signs like sudden changes in behavior or unexplained expensive items.

Europol emphasized that the primary goal of this initiative is to prevent children from being lured into organized crime, rather than to punish them.

To enhance the effectiveness of this initiative, Europol will collaborate with technology companies to identify and combat recruitment efforts targeting youth on social media and messaging platforms.