Five Norwegians have been charged in an alleged swindle of NATO that’s been unraveling around Europe this week. Those arrested in Bergen are suspected of over-billing for work done on NATO vessels in Norwegian harbours between 2021 and 2025.
The suspects arrested at their homes in the Bergen area on Wednesday were being questioned at police headquarters on Thursday, while several locations tied to them were being ransacked. At the same time, police in Romania and Germany were conducting similar searches at companies tied to the work and alleged over-billing.
The Norwegians are charged with having over-billed NATO’s support and acquisitions unit for more than EUR 1 million. All the men charged worked or have worked in the same company that carried out work on ships from several NATO countries while in Norwegian harbours.
Neither NATO officials nor the Norwegian Defense Ministry would comment on the case. Prosecutor Marianne Bender said it would “take time to investigate the case” since it extends over several years in several locations. She called the case “very serious” if indeed NATO has been swindled in connection with increased defense spending.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
