Gang top is suspected of large-scale drug smuggling

In the fall of 2020, the Swedish Customs Service will start investigating a criminal network. The authority's theory is that they engage in large-scale drug smuggling from Spain to Sweden.

In the encrypted communication services SKY ECC and Encrochat, members communicate about the entry. "We will make millions of euros," writes one of them. A little later, the same person claims to have found a perfect place to store the drugs. It is about a warehouse in Rottne outside Växjö.

The importation of the drug is planned to be carried out under the guise of importing vegetables. "What a lot of salad to eat," jokes a network member in the chats.

In January 2021, a crackdown will be carried out against the warehouse where the narcotics have been handled since they arrived in Sweden. 131 kilos of cannabis are seized and several people are arrested. They are later convicted of serious drug smuggling and serious drug crime.

But the now 38-year-old man who is suspected of having planned and organized the import escapes from justice. It will turn out that he is hiding in Dubai, among other places.

After being internationally wanted for five years, the 38-year-old is arrested and detained. Now he has been charged with extremely serious drug smuggling. Based on material from chats, he is suspected of having planned and organized seven smuggling occasions. All in all, it should be about 1,550 kilograms of cannabis.

- The case shows that we do not give up, but can arrest suspected drug criminals long after the crimes have been committed. Here we have managed to get access to a high-ranking person in a criminal network who smuggled large quantities of narcotics and we are very satisfied with that, says Erik Friberg at the Customs Criminal Division.

The 38-year-old has consistently refused to answer some of the Customs' questions when he has been questioned.

- I deny crime, I don't think anything, says the man when he is asked what he thinks about the crimes he is accused of.