Fewer but larger drug seizures during the corona pandemic

The closed borders and restrictions during the corona pandemic with reduced travel flows have affected drug imports to southern Sweden.

Statistics produced by the Swedish Customs on behalf of SVT Nyheter Skåne show that the number of seizures has fallen between January and July this year, compared with the same period in 2019.

During the first half of this year, a total of 704 seizures of drugs were made, compared with 928 last year.

- It is in truck traffic that we have made many of the seizures, says Martin Petersson, deputy border protection manager for the Swedish Customs' southern region.

The reason is that drug smugglers have to a greater extent started to use freight transport and mail instead of passenger traffic. Customs has therefore shifted its focus.

On the Öresund Bridge, the number of seizures has decreased from 738 to 455, while there is instead an increase in Ystad and Trelleborg. Helsingborg shows a small reduction - but earlier this year a larger seizure was made with 150 kilos of cannabis in a truck.

Martin Petersson believes that the amount of drugs that will be seized before the end of the year will correspond to the amount last year. Last year, 3670 kilos and 60 liters of liquid amphetamine base were stopped. Between January and July this year, the figures are 1250 kilos and 131 liters respectively.

However, the authority is already noticing that smugglers are changing tactics, as more countries are easing coronary restrictions.

- We have again started to make gross seizures in passenger cars that we have not done for a period, says Martin Petersson.

See the seizure of 150 kilos of cannabis in the video above.