Black Cobra (gang)

Black Cobra is one of the largest immigrant street gangs in Denmark and is represented in most major Danish cities, with approximately 100 members.

[13] Various factors have been found to contribute towards a member's decision to join the gang, such as socio-economic, schooling, family circumstances and immigration.

[17] The Black Cobra gang identifies with illegal activity including crimes of drug dealing, violence, burglaries, racketeering and manslaughter.

These crimes were suspected by police to be conducted by the Black Cobra gang, Hells Angels and Bandidos biker groups over control in the drug market around the area.

[20] In March 2009, members of the Black Cobra were arrested in Malmö for extorting a company for protection money and trafficking illegal drugs.

[21] The Black Cobra gang stole 120 boxes of almond tarts, punch rolls, apple crowns and brownies from a delivery truck in southern Sweden in March 2010.

A fifteen-year-old Black Cobra member was charged with attempted murder after police raided twenty-three properties and recovered two firearms during a crackdown on the gang environment on 28 February 2013.

The Norwegian penal law definition of organised crime was implemented in 2003, being that 'a structured association, established over a period of time, of more than two persons acting in concert with a view to committing offences which are punishable by deprivation of liberty or a detention order'.

[17] This law allowed courts to increase penalties towards gangs and organised criminal groups and implement heavier sentencing if a crime is proved to be gang-related.

[17] In 2009 and 2013, the Denmark Government launched three specific legislative packages, the first one aimed at addressing certain crimes such as street shootings and violent incidents related to gangs and conflict between individual criminal groups.

Within this package, it introduced a provision of double penalties, including extended prison sentences in attempt to deter gang membership.

[12] In 2019, a news article written by The Guardian reported the actions taken by police on gang control following thirteen explosions in and around Copenhagen since February 2019.

[27] The article further includes that the Swedish government has announced a 34-point plan to combat the gang-related violence, introducing policy measures to make it easier for police to search suspect's homes, and read encrypted phone messages.