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Unsurprising – but still upsetting.
It has been the most common reaction within the Swedish police after Aftonbladet’s cocaine revelation.
– If you have any kind of addiction, it increases the risk that you will be exposed to influence from foreign security services or criminal networks, says Criminal Commissioner Gunnar Appelgren.
Aftonbladet’s revelation that traces of cocaine were found in half of the Riksdag’s party offices has provoked strong reactions.
Also within the police, according to Aftonbladet’s sources.
– We work against this type of crime every day and we see what both drug addiction, and everything that comes with the crime surrounding it, does to society. So it feels that way if it were to be the case that those who legislate say something outwardly at the same time as they privately feed this crime, says a police officer in the field.
“Extra inappropriate in the Riksdag”
Although the review cannot show who used the cocaine inside the chancellery toilets, there is a concern that the use of cocaine could put politicians and their employees in a dangerous position.
Gunnar Appelgren, criminal inspector at the Södertälje police who has many years in the profession, says that his reactions to the disclosure were several.
– In a way, I am not surprised. Cocaine use is so widespread. It occurs among criminals, in party junkies and even in fine rooms.
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full screen Criminal Commissioner Gunnar Appelgren reacts strongly to the cocaine revelation. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT
Carin Götblad, chief of police at the national operational department, says that the police are well aware that drugs occur basically everywhere.
– In all environments and workplaces, even those where it is particularly inappropriate such as the Riksdag, the healthcare system and also within the police. We need greater attention from all employers to drug abuse. Analyzes of wastewater in the municipalities unfortunately show the same thing, she says.
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full screenCarin Götblad, police chief at the national operational department. Photo: Lotte Fernvall
“The stronghold of democracy”
Gunnar Appelgren believes that someone who uses drugs in a workplace is likely to suffer from an addiction and that all forms of addiction, just like a painful divorce or other private difficulties, can open up to external influences.
– It is something that foreign security services or criminal elements like to exploit. Abuse increases the risk that you can exploit, influence or recruit people in politics. It feels extremely serious when it happens in the stronghold of democracy, says Appelgren.
Lennart Karlsson, narcotics police officer for 25 years and chairman of the Narcotics Police Association, agrees. He believes that there are always risks with drugs and drug use linked to all types of workplaces.
– The biggest and most obvious risk if you use narcotics is that you can in various ways become dependent on the people from whom you obtain narcotics. We have seen a development there in recent years, that the criminal gangs and the criminal networks are extremely aware of which people they buy drugs from.
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full screen Lennart Karlsson has been a narcotics police officer for 25 years. Photo: Aftonbladet Tv
“Major security risk”
Lennart Karlsson says that they have found sales lists from drug dealers where it is not only the name and quantity of drugs that have been bought, but also the occupational group of the person who bought the drugs.
– It is the big security risk regardless of which guild you belong to, but in this case we are obviously talking about Sweden’s parliament. It is clear that this poses a security risk.
Gunnar Appelgren also adds a private reflection.
– If it is now abused in the high table of democracy, why? How is the work environment actually? Do politicians numb themselves with alcohol and drugs to cope with their job?