The result of the operation is described by the police as “beyond expectations” with 18 people arrested and the seizure of about ten vehicles, goods and cash worth over five million kroner. A large quantity of narcotics was also seized.
Three of the arrested persons are suspected of being involved in international criminal networks.
The controls were carried out in Sweden on May 23–25 and are part of the larger effort called Empact Trident, which Sweden will lead from 2022 with police chief Mats Palmgren at the National Operative Department (Noa) at the head.
In total, almost 15,000 people and 5,000 vehicles were checked.
“Our focus has been to intercept travelers entering and leaving with criminal intent and to be able to detect crimes, interrupt criminal plans and to reject people at the border who do not have the right to stay in the country. A major success factor is the extensive exchange of information between our countries in the operation” , says Mats Palmgren in a press release.
A total of 16 different authorities from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany participated. In addition to the police, the Swedish Customs Service, the Coast Guard, the Norwegian Crown Enforcement Agency and the Swedish Post and Telecommunications Agency also participated.
