Olivia Karlsson works everyday as a customs inspector at Arlanda. But many recognize her from her participation in “Gränsbevakarna Sverige” where the TV viewers have been able to follow her work, and “Frrädarna” where she finished in second place.
In her work in the “filter”, the corridor where customs is located at Arlanda, she is the last step that smugglers pass before entering the country. It is therefore important that she can quickly determine who is a suspect, and who is not. In an interview with The evening paper she tells how she decides in her work whether you should be stopped.
– You can often tell if someone is nervous because there are a lot of staff looking at them or if it is because they actually have something in their bag, she tells the newspaper.
Customs’ disgusting discovery: “Teeth and the whole package”
Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT Pay attention on flights from Amsterdam
Karlsson tells Aftonbladet that she and her colleagues need to keep track of different countries’ legislation and whether they change to a more drug-liberal one. She explains that, among other things, Thailand has legalized cannabis recently and therefore they need to keep an extra eye on flights coming from there.
One destination she always has her eye on is Amsterdam. She says that it occasionally happens that people “accidentally” bring drugs from there.
– It happens quite often. They might be hiding something in the call. Or that they have some in their bag.
Other destinations that she keeps an extra eye on are Spain and Canada.
Here, a furious man is stopped at customs at Arlanda: “Take the shit if you have to”
There is no stereotypical smuggler
But determining who smuggles drugs is not entirely easy, and Karlsson says that there is no stereotypical smuggler. According to her, it is often small signs that reveal a smuggler.
– I have learned that in this job. Anyone can be a smuggler. For example, we had an elderly man. He really looked like a grandfather when you first saw him, so kind. But then he had two kilos of cocaine in his bag.
Stopped at customs with 1,758 liters of beer – was supposed to have barbecue night: “A good opportunity”
This is by far the most difficult to spot in customs at Arlanda: “At first glance…”