The Danish Parliament has enacted a law permitting authorities to use fake online profiles to identify individuals selling illegal nitrous oxide. This measure aims to tackle the growing online trade of the substance, particularly within closed social media groups.

The Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs announced the new legislation, emphasizing its focus on curbing the illegal sale of nitrous oxide, which has largely shifted to online platforms where monitoring is difficult.

The Nitrous Oxide Act, originally implemented in 2020, placed restrictions on the sale of nitrous oxide, including prohibiting sales to individuals under 18 and limiting purchases to a maximum of two cartridges per transaction for private individuals. The Act also banned shops selling tobacco and alcohol from selling nitrous oxide.

Despite the existing regulations, the sale of nitrous oxide has persisted, with online social media groups becoming a primary marketplace. The use of fake profiles is intended to provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to infiltrate these online networks and identify those engaged in illegal sales activities.