Customs has seized twice as many firecrackers and other illegal fireworks through November compared to the same period last year. This year’s listing is over 43,000 pyrotechnic products.
About three out of four products are powerful firecrackers called bangers. They are often ordered online from countries with legal sales. In cases where the Swedish Customs Administration was able to identify the age of the customers, just over a third were under 18.
Bringing bangers into Sweden is illegal without a permit and the customer risks being guilty of smuggling.
“Bangers can be as powerful as explosive charges and cause serious injuries. We want to warn against handling these products, not least before the New Year when many people are out celebrating,” says Lina Andersson, deputy head of the Swedish Customs’ criminal department, in a press release.
In the player above: See images from the Customs seizure.