Five Norwegian men have been charged over allegations that NATO was overbilled by more than €1 million for work carried out on military vessels in Norwegian ports.
The case centres on services provided to ships belonging to several NATO member countries between 2021 and 2025.
Investigators suspect the men were involved in charging the alliance’s Support and Acquisition unit more than the actual cost of the work justified.
All five suspects are current or former employees of the same company, which carried out work on NATO vessels while they were docked in Norwegian harbours.
Police Arrest Suspects in Bergen
The five men were arrested at their homes in the Bergen area on Wednesday.
By Thursday, they were being questioned at police headquarters as investigators searched several locations connected to the suspects.
The operation extended beyond Norway, with police in Romania and Germany carrying out similar searches at companies linked to the work under investigation.
The coordinated searches form part of an inquiry into alleged overbilling associated with services provided to NATO vessels over a four-year period.
Investigators Examine Transactions Across Three Countries
The investigation covers work performed between 2021 and 2025, with authorities examining activities and companies connected to the contracts.
Prosecutors have described the allegations as a serious matter, although the claims against the five men remain allegations to be examined through the investigation.
The involvement of authorities in Norway, Romania and Germany reflects the number of locations and business connections that investigators are examining as they work to establish what happened.
Prosecutor Warns Investigation Will Take Time
Prosecutor Marianne Bender said the investigation would require considerable time because the suspected activity spans several years and involves multiple locations.
She described the case as “very serious” if it is established that NATO was defrauded in connection with the work.
Neither NATO officials nor Norway’s Ministry of Defence agreed to comment on the case.
