Norwegian customs are concerned about developments in Sweden with increased drug trafficking and gang crime. Now their work at the border has intensified to try to prevent the gangs from establishing themselves in Norway.
– We are following what is currently happening in Sweden very closely, says Hilde Pettersen Ruud, area manager for Norwegian customs in Region Mitt.
Norwegian customs have seen a clear increase in drug seizures at the Swedish-Norwegian border this year. There have been several high-profile cases where drug smugglers tried to smuggle drugs across the border in various ways.
– We are very concerned that the problems that exist in Sweden right now with drugs and gang crime will cross the border into Norway. So both we and the Norwegian police are working hard on this issue right now, in collaboration with our Swedish colleagues, says Hilde Pettersen Ruud.
Sundsvall is pointed out by many as the drug hub in Norrland. The narcotics come here from the south and are then distributed further north, but also west towards Jämtland and then further into Norway.
Larger batches of drugs
Together with the Swedish customs colleagues, Norwegian customs officials have recently intensified border surveillance.
– We are at various places along the border and check vehicles and we also use various technical aids such as cameras and other things, says Magne Svingen Mo, section manager for Norwegian customs in Tröndelag.
The working method of Norwegian customs is to be mobile along the border with Sweden. They are out on the roads in civilian cars. They stop both suspicious cars and carry out larger control actions to get at the drug smugglers.
– Above all, we have recently noticed that those who smuggle drugs are carrying increasingly large batches of drugs. It indicates that they are organized leagues, says Hilde Pettersen Ruud, area manager of the Norwegian customs region Mitt.