Sky-High Drug Prices Attract Criminals to Greenland

The Greenland Police believe that Danish gangs are largely involved in both violence and drug trafficking, and that they detect major economic opportunities in the Greenlandic market.

"Our assessment is that organised criminal actors from Denmark travel to Greenland for illegal purposes," stated investigation leader Malik Sandgreen at the Greenland Police, to DR this fall.

According to the police, the enormous price differences are one of the main reasons why criminals are attracted to the Arctic climate.

Ten times more expensive

One gram of cocaine is sold for up to DKK 7,000 (USD 1,120), nearly ten times the price in Denmark. Marijuana is also sold at much higher prices, often between DKK 500 and 1,000 per gram.

"It is an attractive market for criminal groups," said Sandgreen.

He underscored that the high prices are what make Greenland an attractive market for gangs.

Large seizures

Sandgreen also identified several factors that contribute to the development. The extensive construction activity on the island means that a lot of labour is brought in from outside.

"Some of the workers have a criminal background. You need to have a network, and we believe this happens in close cooperation with local actors in Greenland."

The drugs are usually smuggled onto the island through cargo ships and transport planes.

During 2024, the police seized 115 kilos of hashish and confiscated over DKK 4.8 million. A total of 486 drug offences were registered throughout the year. Cocaine and marijuana make up the majority of the trade.