1.4 tons of cocaine confiscated in one of Sweden's "biggest seizures ever made"

Swedish customs made one of the country's biggest-ever cocaine seizures after confiscating around 1.4 tons of the drug last week in a port near Stockholm, an official told Swedish television on Tuesday.

"If it is as big as we think, it is one of the biggest seizures ever made," Stefan Granath of Swedish customs told broadcaster SVT, adding they were still waiting for a precise figure of how much was found.

The drug was discovered in a container in the Nynashamn port, south of Stockholm, on April 18, Granath said. Six men have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in its transport.

Granath said the drug likely was meant for the European market and that Sweden was only a transit country."Just five to 10 years ago, it was very unusual to seize only 100 kilograms," Granath told SVT.

A report published earlier this month found that criminal networks in the European Union are penetrating legal businesses across the 27-nation bloc. The networks are primarily involved in drug trafficking and corruption, according to the report. 

In recent months European investigators have found large amounts of cocaine stashed in unique locations. Portuguese investigators found 1.3 tons of cocaine hidden in frozen fish shipments in March. Dutch investigators found 17,600 pounds of cocaine hidden inside crates of bananas last August – the largest haul ever collected in Rotterdam's port, authorities said.

Profits from drug and arms trafficking have been invested in real estate, supermarkets, hotels and other commercial activities, the report said.

The volume of cocaine seized by Swedish customs peaked in 2022, when 822 kilograms were confiscated, according to official figures. This was more than 300 kilograms more than the previous record set in 2018.

Swedish radio said the figure reflected more efficient search methods and an increase in the flow of drugs in general.

In:
• Sweden
• Cocaine
• European Union
• Crime

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