Many of the Lithuanians convicted of various crimes in Norway resist being sent back to their homeland, suggesting that prison conditions are tougher there. But Justice Minister Knut Storberget wants "minimal opportunity" for them to appeal deportation successfully, reports newspaper Aftenposten.
"I want to focus on futher cooperation between Norway and Lithuania, to achieve the most efficient prison transfers," said Storberget, who traveled to Lithuania's capital of Vilnius this week.
Norwegian officials recently have freed up 27 prison spots -- for a savings of NOK 15 million a year -- by sending foreign criminals back to their home countries. So far this year, 21 foreign prisoners (five from Lithuania) have been transferred, seven of them against their will.
As of last week, 80 Lithuanians sat in Norwegian jails, 31 serving prison terms after being convicted and 49 in remand custody. The two countries have had a repatriation agreement for six years, but Storberget wants it to function more smoothly.
Norwegian and Lithuanian police also were holding talks on how to combat Lithuanian criminal gangs that operate in Norway and appear highly organized.
