The war on drugs remains the dominant mindset for many Swedes. Especially in smaller towns, police seem to think they can still eradicate illicit drugs before it’s too late, primarily by targeting users. This approach also serves as a way for law enforcement across the country to boost their statistics, creating the illusion of solving more crime. It’s much easier to arrest someone with prior convictions for possession of small amounts—perhaps for the fourth time—than to tackle organized crime and gangs.
A recent example highlighted in the news involves Gunnar Appelgren of the Södertälje police. He told SVT that in the town of Nykvarn, police are conducting targeted operations, including forced home entries and demanding urine samples from individuals suspected of purchasing drugs. These suspicions often arise from so-called “Swish lists”—records of mobile payments to low-level dealers.
In Sweden, a pervasive mentality suggests that it should be hard to be a drug user. As a result, stigmatization is rarely questioned, and police actions systematically distort crime statistics. In fact, over 90% of drug-related cases involve possession or personal use, while only about 8% pertain to sales. This data comes from BRÅ’s 2023 statistics.
More on the subject:
Sweden’s embarrassing problems with the failed war on drugs
Big Brother’s spam: Controversial methods in the hunt for Swedish drug buyers