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Iceland’s Biker Clubs: A Growing Concern for Authorities

Reykjavik, Iceland - The Icelandic government has been grappling with a rising threat from biker clubs, particularly the Angels and Bandidos Motorcycle Clubs. While there is no evidence to suggest state-embedded actors are involved in criminal markets, authorities have expressed concerns about the growing presence of these groups.

Leadership and Governance

The Icelandic government has recognized the threat posed by organized crime, but critics argue that it has not done enough to counter it. In response, a governmental working group was established to draft an action plan to tackle organized crime, with specific areas prioritized in the policy agenda. The country’s efficient and functional governance system has been praised, despite deficiencies in anti-corruption initiatives.

Criminal Justice and Security

The Icelandic justice system has been assessed as being of high standard, with a low risk of corruption. However, the prison system has faced criticism for a lack of funding and long waiting times for justice. The police force enjoys a high level of trust from the public, but certain tensions between national and regional forces remain a challenge.

Economic and Financial Environment

Iceland was previously listed as a “grey list” country by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) due to its insufficient controls to deal with money laundering and terrorist financing. However, after implementing reforms, Iceland was removed from the grey list in 2020. The country’s economic and regulatory environment is conducive to doing business, but some economic sectors may be vulnerable to infiltration by organized crime.

Civil Society and Social Protection

The government cooperates with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to support victims of human trafficking and drug users. Facilities and services are available for treating people with drug addiction, and the country has a comprehensive treatment program for addiction. However, there is no formal witness protection program in place.

Conclusion

While Iceland’s biker clubs do not appear to be state-embedded, authorities remain concerned about their growing presence. The government has taken steps to address organized crime, including the establishment of a working group and reforms to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing. However, more needs to be done to counter the threat posed by these groups.

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