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