Swedish customs to gain new powers to seize criminals' property

Swedish customs officers will soon have a new tool in their fight against organized crime. Starting July 1, customs authorities will be empowered to seize property on behalf of the Swedish Enforcement Authority. This change addresses a long-standing frustration for customs officials who, in the past, had to release vehicles even when they knew the driver had significant debts.

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It has been a wound in the customs heart when we had to let a car go, even though we knew the person in the car had debts.

"It has been a wound in the customs heart when we had to let a car go, even though we knew the person in the car had debts," said Gürsu Öncü, national coordinator for the criminal economy at the Swedish Customs Service. Previously, customs had to involve the police to seize assets remotely, and if the police could not assist, the property had to be released.

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We have needed to let the car go when the Enforcement Authority or the police could not come.

The new regulations will allow customs officers to take custody of seized property if it is encountered during customs operations, even without the direct presence of the Enforcement Authority. Customs officers will also be tasked with notifying the Enforcement Authority when they identify property that may be subject to seizure. While the primary role of customs remains combating smuggling, this expanded authority is seen as a crucial step in disrupting organized crime and ensuring that victims of crime receive the compensation they are owed.

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It is easy to think that customs will start chasing indebted people, but that is not our mission. Primarily, we stop a car for smuggling.