Norwegian Multimillionaire Accused of Fraud in NATO Ship Servicing

Norwegian authorities have arrested four people, including a multimillionaire, on suspicion of systematic fraud against NATO.

The Norwegian national broadcaster NRK reported the arrests, citing Økokrim, Norway’s National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime.

The main suspect is a man over the age of 50 whose wealth is estimated at more than 100 million Norwegian kroner (€8.5 million). He owns a company that provided maintenance services for NATO warships in Norwegian ports.

According to investigators, the businessman and his employees systematically overcharged for work performed and submitted fraudulent invoices to NATO between 2021 and 2025. The total damages are estimated at at least €1 million.

NATO investigators uncovered the alleged misconduct in 2023, prompting a joint investigation with law enforcement authorities in Norway, Germany, and Romania.

The Norwegian millionaire, who is the main suspect, denies any wrongdoing, stating that he does not understand the basis for the charges. However, a court has already ordered him to be held in custody for two weeks.

As previously reported, Norwegian authorities are also investigating an unexplained case of military assistance to Ukraine involving respiratory masks supplied by the company Watchbird. The Parliament’s Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs has opened a so-called scrutiny case against the government.