SWEDEN: 2009-2010 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 16 STOCKHOLM 000703 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL KSEP SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN: 2009-2010 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INSCR),PART I STOCKHOLM 00000703 001.6 OF 016 ¶I. Summary -------------- ¶1. Sweden is not a significant illicit drug producing country. However, police report that Sweden is increasingly becoming a transit country for illegal drugs to other Nordic countries and Eastern European states. The fight against illegal drugs is an important government priority and enjoys strong public support. There are an estimated 26,000 serious drug (viz., heroin, cocaine) users in Sweden, and the overall quantities of narcotics seized in 2009 did not change significantly from 2008. Amphetamine and cannabis remain the most popular illegal drugs and during the year, the influx of methamphetamine increased. Total heroin usage did not change from 2008, although the abuse of anabolic steroids continued to rise. The quantity of narcotics ordered over the internet increased in 2009. The number of high school aged boys and girls who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points, cannabis being the most common drug. To combat these trends, law enforcement and customs entities have been active in several domestic and international counter-narcotic projects in the last year. ¶2. The majority of narcotics in Sweden originates in South America, West Africa, Eastern Europe, China, and Afghanistan and is smuggled via other EU countries. Khat usage remains restricted to specific immigrant communities. Limited residential cultivation of cannabis occurs, along with a limited number of small kitchen labs producing methamphetamine and anabolic steroids. Sweden is not believed to have any industrial narcotics laboratories. Sweden is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. II. Status of Country -------------- ¶3. Relative to other European countries, Sweden (both government and society) is highly intolerant of illegal drugs. Sweden places strong focus on prevention and education. According to government statistics, 12 percent of the adult population (15-75 years old) has tried drugs at some point during their lives. According to the latest available figure, Sweden continues to have approximately 26,000 serious drug addicts (i.e. regular intravenous use and/or daily need for narcotics). Some 25 percent of serious drug users are women (in both 2008 and 2009). The most common drugs addicts use are amphetamines, heroine and cannabis. ; ¶4. The National Institute of Public Health notes an increase in drug-related deaths in 2009 from an average of 300 per year to approximately 350 in 2009. According to police reports, Sweden is both a destination and transit country for amphetamines. The seizure of Methamphetamine has increased significantly in 2009 due to new methods of productions. According to the Swedish Customs a new trend is that the drug is trafficked to Sweden from so called "BMK labs" in Lithuania. ¶5. The government-sponsored Organization for Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CAN) reports that the overall number of young people who have used drugs increased compared to that of 2008. The percentage of high school aged boys (15-16 years old) who claim to have been offered drugs increased to 21 percent in 2009, compared to 19 percent in 2008. Corresponding statistics for girls remained at 19 percent in 2009. High school aged boys who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points to nine percent for high school aged girls increased from five to seven percent. Approximately 80 percent of those who try drugs for the first time do so with cannabis. Amphetamines and Ecstasy resembling drugs are the second and third most commonly used drugs. ¶6. There are regional differences in drug use. The use of narcotics is predominately concentrated in urban areas, and the southern parts of the country, but is growing in rural areas. The police have observed a countrywide increase in the use of cocaine. Previously considered a "luxury" drug and mainly used in fashionable bars and restaurants, cocaine has become more common due to a significant drop in price. In 2000, one gram of cocaine cost the equivalent of $200, today the price is as low as $55-120 in Stockholm and $110-140 in southern Sweden. Cocaine is mainly smuggled to Sweden through the major European ports, such as Rotterdam, and then by land or air. South American smugglers and dealers have long dominated the drug trade, however competition from other criminal groups, such as Serbians and Russians, have lead to a price decrease. ¶7. Cannabis is one of the most commonly used narcotics in Sweden. Some 80 percent of the cannabis in Sweden comes from Morocco, the remainder from the Middle East and Central Asia. Cannabis is becoming more common in Sweden; the plant has been refined and can now be cultivated in cooler climates. Cannabis users can be found all over Sweden in all socio-economic groups. ¶8. The use of khat is exclusive to immigrant communities such as STOCKHOLM 00000703 002.6 OF 016 Somalis and Ethiopians, who are continuing a practice of their birth countries. Khat is often smuggled into the country concealed in fruit and vegetable packages. In 2008, the police and customs hired more personnel with in-depth knowledge of khat to combat the influx. The project has resulted in increased seizures of khat and the project will continue during 2009. The Swedish Customs and the Police are also working to a change the narcotics law to reduce the possession amount of khat that is legally punishable. Today possession of khat must reach 200 kilo to be considered a serious violation. ¶9. Last year's trend of an increase in the ordering of illicit drugs over the internet continued. Mephedrone, GBL, Methylon and Salvia are the drugs most commonly smuggled via parcels ordered over the Internet. Other Internet-ordered drugs confiscated by the Customs also include heroin, steroids and illegal pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol. Ecstasy use has decreased significantly during 2009 to the advantage of drugs with similar characteristics. Most packages originate from the EU, usually smuggled in from China. Combating the Internet narcotics trade is a priority and Swedish law enforcement is coordinating closely with Interpol and Europol to develop methods to prevent teenagers from purchasing drugs online. ¶10. The occurrence of doping continues to increase. According to a new study from the National Police Board the number of people using steroids on a regular basis is 10,000 - 12,000 people. The University Hospital Karolinska in Stockholm estimates the number of users is around 50,000. The seizure of steroids -- both in powder form and pills -- increased during 2009. The drugs are smuggled to Sweden as powder and are formed to pills in small drug pharmacies in the country. III. Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 -------------- ¶11. Policy Initiatives and Accomplishments: The government's National Action Plan on Narcotics runs through 2010. Demand reduction and supply restriction figure prominently, and the plan includes provisions to increase treatment for prison inmates with drug addictions. Four ministries share the primary responsibility for drug policy: the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Together, officials from these ministries form an independent working group called The Government's Coordination Body in Drug Related Issues (SAMNARK),which coordinates the implementation of the Action Plan. A governmental investigative commission established to review current narcotics legislation presented its recommendations on December 31, 2008. The commission suggested Swedish authorities monitor the supply of drugs on the internet, and to give the authorities the right to purchase unclassified substances for analysis to speed up the classification process of new drugs. The commission also suggested harsher penalties for doping crimes. ¶12. Sweden participates in a three-year, Denmark-led project targeting West African cocaine and heroin networks. Continued cooperation with Baltic countries, where significant drug trafficking routes exist, constitutes an ongoing and important element in Sweden's counternarcotics efforts. Sweden participates in the EU Council of Ministers working group for overall narcotic drugs issues, the Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG). HDG deals primarily with domestic issues, legal problems and positions as well as the situation in countries outside the EU. Sweden also participates in the Western Balkans and drug combating projects spearheaded by COSPOL, a counternarcotics EU task force led by national police commissioners. ¶13. In September the government classified seven substances similar to cannabis as narcotics, among them the popular internet drug "Spice." In May, Mephedrone was classified as a narcotic. Fighting drugs also remain a high priority area for Sweden's official development assistance. In 2008 Sweden allocated over $12.6 million for the UN Office of Drugs and Crime's general and special-purpose programs. ¶14. The Swedish EU Presidency, July - December 2009, has meant increased opportunities to cooperate with countries to combat narcotics. In the negotiations on the EU Framework Decision on Drugs, which was signed in 2004, Sweden was proactive and contributed to a provision to the effect that a deeper evaluation should be made. The import of this was that the European Commission will not only look at how Member States have implemented the framework decision, but also how the provisions are applied. The Commission presented its evaluation report in May 2009. The work of the Council on analyzing the report took place on November 2-3, 2009 when the drug coordinators of the Member States met in Stockholm. ¶15. Law Enforcement Efforts: In 2009, authorities did not uncover any major drug processing labs. Police reported 58,403 STOCKHOLM 00000703 003.4 OF 016 narcotics-related crimes from January to September 2009. This represents a three percent increase compared to the corresponding period of 2008 when 56,735 cases were reported. In 2008 a total of 78,200 narcotics related crimes were reported to the police. Approximately 21 percent of the arrests under the Narcotics Act led to convictions, which on an average resulted in seven months in jail. The majority of the crimes involved consumption and possession. Two percent of all convictions are considered serious violations and the average conviction is four years and eight months imprisonment. ¶16. In March 2009, the police made a large drug bust of 447 buyers UNCLASSIFIED PROG 11/09/09 POL:BOlsen POL:HWaluszewski POLD AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM SECSTATE WASHDC, PRIORITY DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL KSEP SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN: 2009-2010 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INSCR),PART I ¶I. Summary -------------- ¶1. Sweden is not a significant illicit drug producing country. However, police report that Sweden is increasingly becoming a transit country for illegal drugs to other Nordic countries and Eastern European states. The fight against illegal drugs is an important government priority and enjoys strong public support. There are an estimated 26,000 serious drug (viz., heroin, cocaine) users in Sweden, and the overall quantities of narcotics seized in 2009 did not change significantly from 2008. Amphetamine and cannabis remain the most popular illegal drugs and during the year, the influx of methamphetamine increased. Total heroin usage did not change from 2008, although the abuse of anabolic steroids continued to rise. The quantity of narcotics ordered over the internet increased in 2009. The number of high school aged boys and girls who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points, cannabis being the most common drug. To combat these trends, law enforcement and customs entities have been active in several domestic and international counter-narcotic projects in the last year. ¶2. The majority of narcotics in Sweden originates in South America, West Africa, Eastern Europe, China, and Afghanistan and is smuggled via other EU countries. Khat usage remains restricted to specific immigrant communities. Limited residential cultivation of cannabis occurs, along with a limited number of small kitchen labs producing methamphetamine and anabolic steroids. Sweden is not believed to have any industrial narcotics laboratories. Sweden is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. II. Status of Country -------------- ¶3. Relative to other European countries, Sweden (both government and society) is highly intolerant of illegal drugs. Sweden places strong focus on prevention and education. According to government statistics, 12 percent of the adult population (15-75 years old) has tried drugs at some point during their lives. According to the latest available figure, Sweden continues to have approximately 26,000 serious drug addicts (i.e. regular intravenous use and/or daily need for narcotics). Some 25 percent of serious drug users are women (in both 2008 and 2009). The most common drugs addicts use are amphetamines, heroine and cannabis. ¶4. The National Institute of Public Health notes an increase in drug-related deaths in 2009 from an average of 300 per year to approximately 350 in 2009. According to police reports, Sweden is both a destination and transit country for amphetamines. The seizure of Methamphetamine has increased significantly in 2009 due to new methods of productions. According to the Swedish Customs a new trend is that the drug is trafficked to Sweden from so called "BMK labs" in Lithuania. ¶5. The government-sponsored Organization for Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CAN) reports that the overall number of young people who have used drugs increased compared to that of 2008. The STOCKHOLM 00000703 004.6 OF 016 percentage of high school aged boys (15-16 years old) who claim to have been offered drugs increased to 21 percent in 2009, compared to 19 percent in 2008. Corresponding statistics for girls remained at 19 percent in 2009. High school aged boys who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points to nine percent for high school aged girls increased from five to seven percent. Approximately 80 percent of those who try drugs for the first time do so with cannabis. Amphetamines and Ecstasy resembling drugs are the second and third most commonly used drugs. ¶6. There are regional differences in drug use. The use of narcotics is predominately concentrated in urban areas, and the southern parts of the country, but is growing in rural areas. The police have observed a countrywide increase in the use of cocaine. Previously considered a "luxury" drug and mainly used in fashionable bars and restaurants, cocaine has become more common due to a significant drop in price. In 2000, one gram of cocaine cost the equivalent of $200, today the price is as low as $55-120 in Stockholm and $110-140 in southern Sweden. Cocaine is mainly smuggled to Sweden through the major European ports, such as Rotterdam, and then by land or air. South American smugglers and dealers have long dominated the drug trade, however competition from other criminal groups, such as Serbians and Russians, have lead to a price decrease. ¶7. Cannabis is one of the most commonly used narcotics in Sweden. Some 80 percent of the cannabis in Sweden comes from Morocco, the remainder from the Middle East and Central Asia. Cannabis is becoming more common in Sweden; the plant has been refined and can now be cultivated in cooler climates. Cannabis users can be found all over Sweden in all socio-economic groups. ¶8. The use of khat is exclusive to immigrant communities such as Somalis and Ethiopians, who are continuing a practice of their birth countries. Khat is often smuggled into the country concealed in fruit and vegetable packages. In 2008, the police and customs hired more personnel with in-depth knowledge of khat to combat the influx. The project has resulted in increased seizures of khat and the project will continue during 2009. The Swedish Customs and the Police are also working to a change the narcotics law to reduce the possession amount of khat that is legally punishable. Today possession of khat must reach 200 kilo to be considered a serious violation. ¶9. Last year's trend of an increase in the ordering of illicit drugs over the internet continued. Mephedrone, GBL, Methylon and Salvia are the drugs most commonly smuggled via parcels ordered over the Internet. Other Internet-ordered drugs confiscated by the Customs also include heroin, steroids and illegal pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol. Ecstasy use has decreased significantly during 2009 to the advantage of drugs with similar characteristics. Most packages originate from the EU, usually smuggled in from China. Combating the Internet narcotics trade is a priority and Swedish law enforcement is coordinating closely with Interpol and Europol to develop methods to prevent teenagers from purchasing drugs online. ¶10. The occurrence of doping continues to increase. According to a new study from the National Police Board the number of people using steroids on a regular basis is 10,000 - 12,000 people. The University Hospital Karolinska in Stockholm estimates the number of users is around 50,000. The seizure of steroids -- both in powder form and pills -- increased during 2009. The drugs are smuggled to Sweden as powder and are formed to pills in small drug pharmacies in the country. III. Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 -------------- ¶11. Policy Initiatives and Accomplishments: The government's National Action Plan on Narcotics runs through 2010. Demand reduction and supply restriction figure prominently, and the plan includes provisions to increase treatment for prison inmates with drug addictions. Four ministries share the primary responsibility for drug policy: the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Together, officials from these ministries form an independent working group called The Government's Coordination Body in Drug Related Issues (SAMNARK),which coordinates the implementation of the Action Plan. A governmental investigative commission established to review current narcotics legislation presented its recommendations on December 31, 2008. The commission suggested Swedish authorities monitor the supply of drugs on the internet, and to give the authorities the right to purchase unclassified substances for analysis to speed up the classification process of new drugs. The commission also suggested harsher penalties for doping crimes. ¶12. Sweden participates in a three-year, Denmark-led project targeting West African cocaine and heroin networks. Continued cooperation with Baltic countries, where significant drug STOCKHOLM 00000703 005.6 OF 016 trafficking routes exist, constitutes an ongoing and important element in Sweden's counternarcotics efforts. Sweden participates in the EU Council of Ministers working group for overall narcotic drugs issues, the Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG). HDG deals primarily with domestic issues, legal problems and positions as well as the situation in countries outside the EU. Sweden also participates in the Western Balkans and drug combating projects spearheaded by COSPOL, a counternarcotics EU task force led by national police commissioners. ¶13. In September the government classified seven substances similar to cannabis as narcotics, among them the popular internet drug "Spice." In May, Mephedrone was classified as a narcotic. Fighting drugs also remain a high priority area for Sweden's official development assistance. In 2008 Sweden allocated over $12.6 million for the UN Office of Drugs and Crime's general and special-purpose programs. ¶14. The Swedish EU Presidency, July - December 2009, has meant increased opportunities to cooperate with countries to combat narcotics. In the negotiations on the EU Framework Decision on Drugs, which was signed in 2004, Sweden was proactive and contributed to a provision to the effect that a deeper evaluation should be made. The import of this was that the European Commission will not only look at how Member States have implemented the framework decision, but also how the provisions are applied. The Commission presented its evaluation report in May 2009. The work of the Council on analyzing the report took place on November 2-3, 2009 when the drug coordinators of the Member States met in Stockholm. ¶15. Law Enforcement Efforts: In 2009, authorities did not uncover any major drug processing labs. Police reported 58,403 narcotics-related crimes from January to September 2009. This represents a three percent increase compared to the corresponding period of 2008 when 56,735 cases were reported. In 2008 a total of 78,200 narcotics related crimes were reported to the police. Approximately 21 percent of the arrests under the Narcotics Act led to convictions, which on an average resulted in seven months in jail. The majority of the crimes involved consumption and possession. Two percent of all convictions are considered serious violations and the average conviction is four years and eight months imprisonment. ¶16. In March 2009, the police made a large drug bust of 447 buyers UNCLASSIFIED PROG 11/09/09 POL:BOlsen POL:HWaluszewski POLD AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM SECSTATE WASHDC, PRIORITY DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL KSEP SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN: 2009-2010 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INSCR),PART I ¶I. Summary -------------- ¶1. Sweden is not a significant illicit drug producing country. However, police report that Sweden is increasingly becoming a transit country for illegal drugs to other Nordic countries and Eastern European states. The fight against illegal drugs is an important government priority and enjoys strong public support. There are an estimated 26,000 serious drug (viz., heroin, cocaine) users in Sweden, and the overall quantities of narcotics seized in 2009 did not change significantly from 2008. Amphetamine and cannabis remain the most popular illegal drugs and during the year, the influx of methamphetamine increased. Total heroin usage did not change from 2008, although the abuse of anabolic steroids continued to rise. The quantity of narcotics ordered over the internet increased in 2009. The number of high school aged boys and girls who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points, cannabis being the most common drug. To combat these trends, law enforcement and customs entities have been active in several domestic and international counter-narcotic projects in the last year. ¶2. The majority of narcotics in Sweden originates in South America, West Africa, Eastern Europe, China, and Afghanistan and is smuggled via other EU countries. Khat usage remains restricted to specific STOCKHOLM 00000703 006.6 OF 016 immigrant communities. Limited residential cultivation of cannabis occurs, along with a limited number of small kitchen labs producing methamphetamine and anabolic steroids. Sweden is not believed to have any industrial narcotics laboratories. Sweden is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. II. Status of Country -------------- ¶3. Relative to other European countries, Sweden (both government and society) is highly intolerant of illegal drugs. Sweden places strong focus on prevention and education. According to government statistics, 12 percent of the adult population (15-75 years old) has tried drugs at some point during their lives. According to the latest available figure, Sweden continues to have approximately 26,000 serious drug addicts (i.e. regular intravenous use and/or daily need for narcotics). Some 25 percent of serious drug users are women (in both 2008 and 2009). The most common drugs addicts use are amphetamines, heroine and cannabis. ¶4. The National Institute of Public Health notes an increase in drug-related deaths in 2009 from an average of 300 per year to approximately 350 in 2009. According to police reports, Sweden is both a destination and transit country for amphetamines. The seizure of Methamphetamine has increased significantly in 2009 due to new methods of productions. According to the Swedish Customs a new trend is that the drug is trafficked to Sweden from so called "BMK labs" in Lithuania. ¶5. The government-sponsored Organization for Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CAN) reports that the overall number of young people who have used drugs increased compared to that of 2008. The percentage of high school aged boys (15-16 years old) who claim to have been offered drugs increased to 21 percent in 2009, compared to 19 percent in 2008. Corresponding statistics for girls remained at 19 percent in 2009. High school aged boys who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points to nine percent for high school aged girls increased from five to seven percent. Approximately 80 percent of those who try drugs for the first time do so with cannabis. Amphetamines and Ecstasy resembling drugs are the second and third most commonly used drugs. ¶6. There are regional differences in drug use. The use of narcotics is predominately concentrated in urban areas, and the southern parts of the country, but is growing in rural areas. The police have observed a countrywide increase in the use of cocaine. Previously considered a "luxury" drug and mainly used in fashionable bars and restaurants, cocaine has become more common due to a significant drop in price. In 2000, one gram of cocaine cost the equivalent of $200, today the price is as low as $55-120 in Stockholm and $110-140 in southern Sweden. Cocaine is mainly smuggled to Sweden through the major European ports, such as Rotterdam, and then by land or air. South American smugglers and dealers have long dominated the drug trade, however competition from other criminal groups, such as Serbians and Russians, have lead to a price decrease. ¶7. Cannabis is one of the most commonly used narcotics in Sweden. Some 80 percent of the cannabis in Sweden comes from Morocco, the remainder from the Middle East and Central Asia. Cannabis is becoming more common in Sweden; the plant has been refined and can now be cultivated in cooler climates. Cannabis users can be found all over Sweden in all socio-economic groups. ¶8. The use of khat is exclusive to immigrant communities such as Somalis and Ethiopians, who are continuing a practice of their birth countries. Khat is often smuggled into the country concealed in fruit and vegetable packages. In 2008, the police and customs hired more personnel with in-depth knowledge of khat to combat the influx. The project has resulted in increased seizures of khat and the project will continue during 2009. The Swedish Customs and the Police are also working to a change the narcotics law to reduce the possession amount of khat that is legally punishable. Today possession of khat must reach 200 kilo to be considered a serious violation. ¶9. Last year's trend of an increase in the ordering of illicit drugs over the internet continued. Mephedrone, GBL, Methylon and Salvia are the drugs most commonly smuggled via parcels ordered over the Internet. Other Internet-ordered drugs confiscated by the Customs also include heroin, steroids and illegal pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol. Ecstasy use has decreased significantly during 2009 to the advantage of drugs with similar characteristics. Most packages originate from the EU, usually smuggled in from China. Combating the Internet narcotics trade is a priority and Swedish law enforcement is coordinating closely with Interpol and Europol to develop methods to prevent teenagers from purchasing drugs online. ¶10. The occurrence of doping continues to increase. According to a new study from the National Police Board the number of people using STOCKHOLM 00000703 007.6 OF 016 steroids on a regular basis is 10,000 - 12,000 people. The University Hospital Karolinska in Stockholm estimates the number of users is around 50,000. The seizure of steroids -- both in powder form and pills -- increased during 2009. The drugs are smuggled to Sweden as powder and are formed to pills in small drug pharmacies in the country. III. Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 -------------- ¶11. Policy Initiatives and Accomplishments: The government's National Action Plan on Narcotics runs through 2010. Demand reduction and supply restriction figure prominently, and the plan includes provisions to increase treatment for prison inmates with drug addictions. Four ministries share the primary responsibility for drug policy: the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Together, officials from these ministries form an independent working group called The Government's Coordination Body in Drug Related Issues (SAMNARK),which coordinates the implementation of the Action Plan. A governmental investigative commission established to review current narcotics legislation presented its recommendations on December 31, 2008. The commission suggested Swedish authorities monitor the supply of drugs on the internet, and to give the authorities the right to purchase unclassified substances for analysis to speed up the classification process of new drugs. The commission also suggested harsher penalties for doping crimes. ¶12. Sweden participates in a three-year, Denmark-led project targeting West African cocaine and heroin networks. Continued cooperation with Baltic countries, where significant drug trafficking routes exist, constitutes an ongoing and important element in Sweden's counternarcotics efforts. Sweden participates in the EU Council of Ministers working group for overall narcotic drugs issues, the Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG). HDG deals primarily with domestic issues, legal problems and positions as well as the situation in countries outside the EU. Sweden also participates in the Western Balkans and drug combating projects spearheaded by COSPOL, a counternarcotics EU task force led by national police commissioners. ¶13. In September the government classified seven substances similar to cannabis as narcotics, among them the popular internet drug "Spice." In May, Mephedrone was classified as a narcotic. Fighting drugs also remain a high priority area for Sweden's official development assistance. In 2008 Sweden allocated over $12.6 million for the UN Office of Drugs and Crime's general and special-purpose programs. ¶14. The Swedish EU Presidency, July - December 2009, has meant increased opportunities to cooperate with countries to combat narcotics. In the negotiations on the EU Framework Decision on Drugs, which was signed in 2004, Sweden was proactive and contributed to a provision to the effect that a deeper evaluation should be made. The import of this was that the European Commission will not only look at how Member States have implemented the framework decision, but also how the provisions are applied. The Commission presented its evaluation report in May 2009. The work of the Council on analyzing the report took place on November 2-3, 2009 when the drug coordinators of the Member States met in Stockholm. ¶15. Law Enforcement Efforts: In 2009, authorities did not uncover any major drug processing labs. Police reported 58,403 narcotics-related crimes from January to September 2009. This represents a three percent increase compared to the corresponding period of 2008 when 56,735 cases were reported. In 2008 a total of 78,200 narcotics related crimes were reported to the police. Approximately 21 percent of the arrests under the Narcotics Act led to convictions, which on an average resulted in seven months in jail. The majority of the crimes involved consumption and possession. Two percent of all convictions are considered serious violations and the average conviction is four years and eight months imprisonment. ¶16. In March 2009, the police made a large drug bust of 447 buyers UNCLASSIFIED PROG 11/09/09 POL:BOlsen POL:HWaluszewski POLD AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM SECSTATE WASHDC, PRIORITY DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE STOCKHOLM 00000703 008.6 OF 016 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL KSEP SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN: 2009-2010 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INSCR),PART I ¶I. Summary -------------- ¶1. Sweden is not a significant illicit drug producing country. However, police report that Sweden is increasingly becoming a transit country for illegal drugs to other Nordic countries and Eastern European states. The fight against illegal drugs is an important government priority and enjoys strong public support. There are an estimated 26,000 serious drug (viz., heroin, cocaine) users in Sweden, and the overall quantities of narcotics seized in 2009 did not change significantly from 2008. Amphetamine and cannabis remain the most popular illegal drugs and during the year, the influx of methamphetamine increased. Total heroin usage did not change from 2008, although the abuse of anabolic steroids continued to rise. The quantity of narcotics ordered over the internet increased in 2009. The number of high school aged boys and girls who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points, cannabis being the most common drug. To combat these trends, law enforcement and customs entities have been active in several domestic and international counter-narcotic projects in the last year. ¶2. The majority of narcotics in Sweden originates in South America, West Africa, Eastern Europe, China, and Afghanistan and is smuggled via other EU countries. Khat usage remains restricted to specific immigrant communities. Limited residential cultivation of cannabis occurs, along with a limited number of small kitchen labs producing methamphetamine and anabolic steroids. Sweden is not believed to have any industrial narcotics laboratories. Sweden is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. II. Status of Country -------------- ¶3. Relative to other European countries, Sweden (both government and society) is highly intolerant of illegal drugs. Sweden places strong focus on prevention and education. According to government statistics, 12 percent of the adult population (15-75 years old) has tried drugs at some point during their lives. According to the latest available figure, Sweden continues to have approximately 26,000 serious drug addicts (i.e. regular intravenous use and/or daily need for narcotics). Some 25 percent of serious drug users are women (in both 2008 and 2009). The most common drugs addicts use are amphetamines, heroine and cannabis. ¶4. The National Institute of Public Health notes an increase in drug-related deaths in 2009 from an average of 300 per year to approximately 350 in 2009. According to police reports, Sweden is both a destination and transit country for amphetamines. The seizure of Methamphetamine has increased significantly in 2009 due to new methods of productions. According to the Swedish Customs a new trend is that the drug is trafficked to Sweden from so called "BMK labs" in Lithuania. ¶5. The government-sponsored Organization for Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CAN) reports that the overall number of young people who have used drugs increased compared to that of 2008. The percentage of high school aged boys (15-16 years old) who claim to have been offered drugs increased to 21 percent in 2009, compared to 19 percent in 2008. Corresponding statistics for girls remained at 19 percent in 2009. High school aged boys who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points to nine percent for high school aged girls increased from five to seven percent. Approximately 80 percent of those who try drugs for the first time do so with cannabis. Amphetamines and Ecstasy resembling drugs are the second and third most commonly used drugs. ¶6. There are regional differences in drug use. The use of narcotics is predominately concentrated in urban areas, and the southern parts of the country, but is growing in rural areas. The police have observed a countrywide increase in the use of cocaine. Previously considered a "luxury" drug and mainly used in fashionable bars and restaurants, cocaine has become more common due to a significant drop in price. In 2000, one gram of cocaine cost the equivalent of $200, today the price is as low as $55-120 in Stockholm and $110-140 in southern Sweden. Cocaine is mainly smuggled to Sweden through the major European ports, such as Rotterdam, and then by land or air. South American smugglers and dealers have long dominated the drug trade, however competition from other criminal groups, such as Serbians and Russians, have lead to a price decrease. ¶7. Cannabis is one of the most commonly used narcotics in Sweden. STOCKHOLM 00000703 009.6 OF 016 Some 80 percent of the cannabis in Sweden comes from Morocco, the remainder from the Middle East and Central Asia. Cannabis is becoming more common in Sweden; the plant has been refined and can now be cultivated in cooler climates. Cannabis users can be found all over Sweden in all socio-economic groups. ¶8. The use of khat is exclusive to immigrant communities such as Somalis and Ethiopians, who are continuing a practice of their birth countries. Khat is often smuggled into the country concealed in fruit and vegetable packages. In 2008, the police and customs hired more personnel with in-depth knowledge of khat to combat the influx. The project has resulted in increased seizures of khat and the project will continue during 2009. The Swedish Customs and the Police are also working to a change the narcotics law to reduce the possession amount of khat that is legally punishable. Today possession of khat must reach 200 kilo to be considered a serious violation. ¶9. Last year's trend of an increase in the ordering of illicit drugs over the internet continued. Mephedrone, GBL, Methylon and Salvia are the drugs most commonly smuggled via parcels ordered over the Internet. Other Internet-ordered drugs confiscated by the Customs also include heroin, steroids and illegal pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol. Ecstasy use has decreased significantly during 2009 to the advantage of drugs with similar characteristics. Most packages originate from the EU, usually smuggled in from China. Combating the Internet narcotics trade is a priority and Swedish law enforcement is coordinating closely with Interpol and Europol to develop methods to prevent teenagers from purchasing drugs online. ¶10. The occurrence of doping continues to increase. According to a new study from the National Police Board the number of people using steroids on a regular basis is 10,000 - 12,000 people. The University Hospital Karolinska in Stockholm estimates the number of users is around 50,000. The seizure of steroids -- both in powder form and pills -- increased during 2009. The drugs are smuggled to Sweden as powder and are formed to pills in small drug pharmacies in the country. III. Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 -------------- ¶11. Policy Initiatives and Accomplishments: The government's National Action Plan on Narcotics runs through 2010. Demand reduction and supply restriction figure prominently, and the plan includes provisions to increase treatment for prison inmates with drug addictions. Four ministries share the primary responsibility for drug policy: the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Together, officials from these ministries form an independent working group called The Government's Coordination Body in Drug Related Issues (SAMNARK),which coordinates the implementation of the Action Plan. A governmental investigative commission established to review current narcotics legislation presented its recommendations on December 31, 2008. The commission suggested Swedish authorities monitor the supply of drugs on the internet, and to give the authorities the right to purchase unclassified substances for analysis to speed up the classification process of new drugs. The commission also suggested harsher penalties for doping crimes. ¶12. Sweden participates in a three-year, Denmark-led project targeting West African cocaine and heroin networks. Continued cooperation with Baltic countries, where significant drug trafficking routes exist, constitutes an ongoing and important element in Sweden's counternarcotics efforts. Sweden participates in the EU Council of Ministers working group for overall narcotic drugs issues, the Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG). HDG deals primarily with domestic issues, legal problems and positions as well as the situation in countries outside the EU. Sweden also participates in the Western Balkans and drug combating projects spearheaded by COSPOL, a counternarcotics EU task force led by national police commissioners. ¶13. In September the government classified seven substances similar to cannabis as narcotics, among them the popular internet drug "Spice." In May, Mephedrone was classified as a narcotic. Fighting drugs also remain a high priority area for Sweden's official development assistance. In 2008 Sweden allocated over $12.6 million for the UN Office of Drugs and Crime's general and special-purpose programs. ¶14. The Swedish EU Presidency, July - December 2009, has meant increased opportunities to cooperate with countries to combat narcotics. In the negotiations on the EU Framework Decision on Drugs, which was signed in 2004, Sweden was proactive and contributed to a provision to the effect that a deeper evaluation should be made. The import of this was that the European Commission will not only look at how Member States have implemented the STOCKHOLM 00000703 010.6 OF 016 framework decision, but also how the provisions are applied. The Commission presented its evaluation report in May 2009. The work of the Council on analyzing the report took place on November 2-3, 2009 when the drug coordinators of the Member States met in Stockholm. ¶15. Law Enforcement Efforts: In 2009, authorities did not uncover any major drug processing labs. Police reported 58,403 narcotics-related crimes from January to September 2009. This represents a three percent increase compared to the corresponding period of 2008 when 56,735 cases were reported. In 2008 a total of 78,200 narcotics related crimes were reported to the police. Approximately 21 percent of the arrests under the Narcotics Act led to convictions, which on an average resulted in seven months in jail. The majority of the crimes involved consumption and possession. Two percent of all convictions are considered serious violations and the average conviction is four years and eight months imprisonment. ¶16. In March 2009, the police made a large drug bust of 447 buyers UNCLASSIFIED PROG 11/09/09 POL:BOlsen POL:HWaluszewski POLD AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM SECSTATE WASHDC, PRIORITY DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL KSEP SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN: 2009-2010 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INSCR),PART I ¶I. Summary -------------- ¶1. Sweden is not a significant illicit drug producing country. However, police report that Sweden is increasingly becoming a transit country for illegal drugs to other Nordic countries and Eastern European states. The fight against illegal drugs is an important government priority and enjoys strong public support. There are an estimated 26,000 serious drug (viz., heroin, cocaine) users in Sweden, and the overall quantities of narcotics seized in 2009 did not change significantly from 2008. Amphetamine and cannabis remain the most popular illegal drugs and during the year, the influx of methamphetamine increased. Total heroin usage did not change from 2008, although the abuse of anabolic steroids continued to rise. The quantity of narcotics ordered over the internet increased in 2009. The number of high school aged boys and girls who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points, cannabis being the most common drug. To combat these trends, law enforcement and customs entities have been active in several domestic and international counter-narcotic projects in the last year. ¶2. The majority of narcotics in Sweden originates in South America, West Africa, Eastern Europe, China, and Afghanistan and is smuggled via other EU countries. Khat usage remains restricted to specific immigrant communities. Limited residential cultivation of cannabis occurs, along with a limited number of small kitchen labs producing methamphetamine and anabolic steroids. Sweden is not believed to have any industrial narcotics laboratories. Sweden is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. II. Status of Country -------------- ¶3. Relative to other European countries, Sweden (both government and society) is highly intolerant of illegal drugs. Sweden places strong focus on prevention and education. According to government statistics, 12 percent of the adult population (15-75 years old) has tried drugs at some point during their lives. According to the latest available figure, Sweden continues to have approximately 26,000 serious drug addicts (i.e. regular intravenous use and/or daily need for narcotics). Some 25 percent of serious drug users are women (in both 2008 and 2009). The most common drugs addicts use are amphetamines, heroine and cannabis. ¶4. The National Institute of Public Health notes an increase in drug-related deaths in 2009 from an average of 300 per year to approximately 350 in 2009. According to police reports, Sweden is both a destination and transit country for amphetamines. The seizure of Methamphetamine has increased significantly in 2009 due STOCKHOLM 00000703 011.6 OF 016 to new methods of productions. According to the Swedish Customs a new trend is that the drug is trafficked to Sweden from so called "BMK labs" in Lithuania. ¶5. The government-sponsored Organization for Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CAN) reports that the overall number of young people who have used drugs increased compared to that of 2008. The percentage of high school aged boys (15-16 years old) who claim to have been offered drugs increased to 21 percent in 2009, compared to 19 percent in 2008. Corresponding statistics for girls remained at 19 percent in 2009. High school aged boys who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points to nine percent for high school aged girls increased from five to seven percent. Approximately 80 percent of those who try drugs for the first time do so with cannabis. Amphetamines and Ecstasy resembling drugs are the second and third most commonly used drugs. ¶6. There are regional differences in drug use. The use of narcotics is predominately concentrated in urban areas, and the southern parts of the country, but is growing in rural areas. The police have observed a countrywide increase in the use of cocaine. Previously considered a "luxury" drug and mainly used in fashionable bars and restaurants, cocaine has become more common due to a significant drop in price. In 2000, one gram of cocaine cost the equivalent of $200, today the price is as low as $55-120 in Stockholm and $110-140 in southern Sweden. Cocaine is mainly smuggled to Sweden through the major European ports, such as Rotterdam, and then by land or air. South American smugglers and dealers have long dominated the drug trade, however competition from other criminal groups, such as Serbians and Russians, have lead to a price decrease. ¶7. Cannabis is one of the most commonly used narcotics in Sweden. Some 80 percent of the cannabis in Sweden comes from Morocco, the remainder from the Middle East and Central Asia. Cannabis is becoming more common in Sweden; the plant has been refined and can now be cultivated in cooler climates. Cannabis users can be found all over Sweden in all socio-economic groups. ¶8. The use of khat is exclusive to immigrant communities such as Somalis and Ethiopians, who are continuing a practice of their birth countries. Khat is often smuggled into the country concealed in fruit and vegetable packages. In 2008, the police and customs hired more personnel with in-depth knowledge of khat to combat the influx. The project has resulted in increased seizures of khat and the project will continue during 2009. The Swedish Customs and the Police are also working to a change the narcotics law to reduce the possession amount of khat that is legally punishable. Today possession of khat must reach 200 kilo to be considered a serious violation. ¶9. Last year's trend of an increase in the ordering of illicit drugs over the internet continued. Mephedrone, GBL, Methylon and Salvia are the drugs most commonly smuggled via parcels ordered over the Internet. Other Internet-ordered drugs confiscated by the Customs also include heroin, steroids and illegal pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol. Ecstasy use has decreased significantly during 2009 to the advantage of drugs with similar characteristics. Most packages originate from the EU, usually smuggled in from China. Combating the Internet narcotics trade is a priority and Swedish law enforcement is coordinating closely with Interpol and Europol to develop methods to prevent teenagers from purchasing drugs online. ¶10. The occurrence of doping continues to increase. According to a new study from the National Police Board the number of people using steroids on a regular basis is 10,000 - 12,000 people. The University Hospital Karolinska in Stockholm estimates the number of users is around 50,000. The seizure of steroids -- both in powder form and pills -- increased during 2009. The drugs are smuggled to Sweden as powder and are formed to pills in small drug pharmacies in the country. III. Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 -------------- ¶11. Policy Initiatives and Accomplishments: The government's National Action Plan on Narcotics runs through 2010. Demand reduction and supply restriction figure prominently, and the plan includes provisions to increase treatment for prison inmates with drug addictions. Four ministries share the primary responsibility for drug policy: the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Together, officials from these ministries form an independent working group called The Government's Coordination Body in Drug Related Issues (SAMNARK),which coordinates the implementation of the Action Plan. A governmental investigative commission established to review current narcotics legislation presented its recommendations on December 31, 2008. The commission suggested Swedish authorities monitor the supply of drugs on the internet, and to give the authorities the right to purchase STOCKHOLM 00000703 012.4 OF 016 INT ZFR IMI ZFR STOCKHOLM 703 STOCKHOLM 00000703 013.6 OF 016 enforcement and customs entities have been active in several domestic and international counter-narcotic projects in the last year. ¶2. The majority of narcotics in Sweden originates in South America, West Africa, Eastern Europe, China, and Afghanistan and is smuggled via other EU countries. Khat usage remains restricted to specific immigrant communities. Limited residential cultivation of cannabis occurs, along with a limited number of small kitchen labs producing methamphetamine and anabolic steroids. Sweden is not believed to have any industrial narcotics laboratories. Sweden is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. II. Status of Country -------------- ¶3. Relative to other European countries, Sweden (both government and society) is highly intolerant of illegal drugs. Sweden places strong focus on prevention and education. According to government statistics, 12 percent of the adult population (15-75 years old) has tried drugs at some point during their lives. According to the latest available figure, Sweden continues to have approximately 26,000 serious drug addicts (i.e. regular intravenous use and/or daily need for narcotics). Some 25 percent of serious drug users are women (in both 2008 and 2009). The most common drugs addicts use are amphetamines, heroine and cannabis. ¶4. The National Institute of Public Health notes an increase in drug-related deaths in 2009 from an average of 300 per year to approximately 350 in 2009. According to police reports, Sweden is both a destination and transit country for amphetamines. The seizure of Methamphetamine has increased significantly in 2009 due to new methods of productions. According to the Swedish Customs a new trend is that the drug is trafficked to Sweden from so called "BMK labs" in Lithuania. ¶5. The government-sponsored Organization for Information on Drugs and Alcohol (CAN) reports that the overall number of young people who have used drugs increased compared to that of 2008. The percentage of high school aged boys (15-16 years old) who claim to have been offered drugs increased to 21 percent in 2009, compared to 19 percent in 2008. Corresponding statistics for girls remained at 19 percent in 2009. High school aged boys who claim to have tried drugs increased two percentage points to nine percent for high school aged girls increased from five to seven percent. Approximately 80 percent of those who try drugs for the first time do so with cannabis. Amphetamines and Ecstasy resembling drugs are the second and third most commonly used drugs. ¶6. There are regional differences in drug use. The use of narcotics is predominately concentrated in urban areas, and the southern parts of the country, but is growing in rural areas. The police have observed a countrywide increase in the use of cocaine. Previously considered a "luxury" drug and mainly used in fashionable bars and restaurants, cocaine has become more common due to a significant drop in price. In 2000, one gram of cocaine cost the equivalent of $200, today the price is as low as $55-120 in Stockholm and $110-140 in southern Sweden. Cocaine is mainly smuggled to Sweden through the major European ports, such as Rotterdam, and then by land or air. South American smugglers and dealers have long dominated the drug trade, however competition from other criminal groups, such as Serbians and Russians, have lead to a price decrease. ¶7. Cannabis is one of the most commonly used narcotics in Sweden. Some 80 percent of the cannabis in Sweden comes from Morocco, the remainder from the Middle East and Central Asia. Cannabis is becoming more common in Sweden; the plant has been refined and can now be cultivated in cooler climates. Cannabis users can be found all over Sweden in all socio-economic groups. ¶8. The use of khat is exclusive to immigrant communities such as Somalis and Ethiopians, who are continuing a practice of their birth countries. Khat is often smuggled into the country concealed in fruit and vegetable packages. In 2008, the police and customs hired more personnel with in-depth knowledge of khat to combat the influx. The project has resulted in increased seizures of khat and the project will continue during 2009. The Swedish Customs and the Police are also working to a change the narcotics law to reduce the possession amount of khat that is legally punishable. Today possession of khat must reach 200 kilo to be considered a serious violation. ¶9. Last year's trend of an increase in the ordering of illicit drugs over the internet continued. Mephedrone, GBL, Methylon and Salvia are the drugs most commonly smuggled via parcels ordered over the Internet. Other Internet-ordered drugs confiscated by the Customs also include heroin, steroids and illegal pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol. Ecstasy use has decreased significantly during 2009 to the advantage of drugs with similar characteristics. Most packages STOCKHOLM 00000703 014.6 OF 016 originate from the EU, usually smuggled in from China. Combating the Internet narcotics trade is a priority and Swedish law enforcement is coordinating closely with Interpol and Europol to develop methods to prevent teenagers from purchasing drugs online. ¶10. The occurrence of doping continues to increase. According to a new study from the National Police Board the number of people using steroids on a regular basis is 10,000 - 12,000 people. The University Hospital Karolinska in Stockholm estimates the number of users is around 50,000. The seizure of steroids -- both in powder form and pills -- increased during 2009. The drugs are smuggled to Sweden as powder and are formed to pills in small drug pharmacies in the country. III. Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 -------------- ¶11. Policy Initiatives and Accomplishments: The government's National Action Plan on Narcotics runs through 2010. Demand reduction and supply restriction figure prominently, and the plan includes provisions to increase treatment for prison inmates with drug addictions. Four ministries share the primary responsibility for drug policy: the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Together, officials from these ministries form an independent working group called The Government's Coordination Body in Drug Related Issues (SAMNARK),which coordinates the implementation of the Action Plan. A governmental investigative commission established to review current narcotics legislation presented its recommendations on December 31, 2008. The commission suggested Swedish authorities monitor the supply of drugs on the internet, and to give the authorities the right to purchase unclassified substances for analysis to speed up the classification process of new drugs. The commission also suggested harsher penalties for doping crimes. ¶12. Sweden participates in a three-year, Denmark-led project targeting West African cocaine and heroin networks. Continued cooperation with Baltic countries, where significant drug trafficking routes exist, constitutes an ongoing and important element in Sweden's counternarcotics efforts. Sweden participates in the EU Council of Ministers working group for overall narcotic drugs issues, the Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG). HDG deals primarily with domestic issues, legal problems and positions as well as the situation in countries outside the EU. Sweden also participates in the Western Balkans and drug combating projects spearheaded by COSPOL, a counternarcotics EU task force led by national police commissioners. ¶13. In September the government classified seven substances similar to cannabis as narcotics, among them the popular internet drug "Spice." In May, Mephedrone was classified as a narcotic. Fighting drugs also remain a high priority area for Sweden's official development assistance. In 2008 Sweden allocated over $12.6 million for the UN Office of Drugs and Crime's general and special-purpose programs. ¶14. The Swedish EU Presidency, July - December 2009, has meant increased opportunities to cooperate with countries to combat narcotics. In the negotiations on the EU Framework Decision on Drugs, which was signed in 2004, Sweden was proactive and contributed to a provision to the effect that a deeper evaluation should be made. The import of this was that the European Commission will not only look at how Member States have implemented the framework decision, but also how the provisions are applied. The Commission presented its evaluation report in May 2009. The work of the Council on analyzing the report took place on November 2-3, 2009 when the drug coordinators of the Member States met in Stockholm. ¶15. Law Enforcement Efforts: In 2009, authorities did not uncover any major drug processing labs. Police reported 58,403 narcotics-related crimes from January to September 2009. This represents a three percent increase compared to the corresponding period of 2008 when 56,735 cases were reported. In 2008 a total of 78,200 narcotics related crimes were reported to the police. Approximately 21 percent of the arrests under the Narcotics Act led to convictions, which on an average resulted in seven months in jail. The majority of the crimes involved consumption and possession. Two percent of all convictions are considered serious violations and the average conviction is four years and eight months imprisonment. ¶16. In March 2009, the police made a large drug bust of 447 buyers UNCLASSIFIED PROG 11/06/2098 ECON:LKIRKCONNELL ECON:AHENNINGSSON, EHOFVERBERG NONE STOCKHOLM 00000703 015.4 OF 016 INT ZFR IMI ZFR STOCKHOLM 703 STOCKHOLM 00000703 016.4 OF 016 INT ZFR IMI ZFR STOCKHOLM 703 BARZUN