Swedish customs officers made a major drug discovery at the Öresund Bridge crossing. They found 31 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment of a refrigerated truck. The incident occurred in July when authorities stopped the vehicle at the busy border crossing between Sweden and Denmark.
Two men traveling in the truck were immediately arrested. Customs officials had actually been monitoring these suspects for months. The same refrigerated trailer first appeared in their investigation back in April during a separate cannabis resin case.
That earlier investigation led customs surveillance teams to a storage facility in Bålsta, just outside Stockholm. There, officers heard banging sounds coming from inside the unit. They suspected drugs were being transferred from the refrigerated truck to other vehicles.
The following day, authorities moved in. They arrested two men who later faced charges at Stockholm District Court. These individuals were charged alongside three other people for extensive organized criminal activity.
When the refrigerated truck reappeared at the Öresund Bridge in July, the two men were arrested again. They now face charges for particularly serious drug smuggling at Malmö District Court. Prosecutors allege the men imported 110 kilograms of cocaine in April and another 31 kilograms in July. Both defendants deny all charges against them.
In total, seven people face prosecution in connection with these drug smuggling operations. The case highlights ongoing challenges at Nordic border crossings. The Öresund Bridge remains a key transit point between Sweden and continental Europe.
This significant seizure demonstrates Swedish customs' evolving surveillance techniques. Officers now track suspect vehicles across multiple appearances rather than treating each incident separately. The coordinated approach between Stockholm and Malmö courts shows improved regional cooperation against organized crime.
Drug enforcement officials note that refrigerated trucks present particular challenges for border security. The temperature-controlled environments can help preserve drug purity while making detection more difficult. Hidden compartments require sophisticated scanning equipment to identify.
The case continues through the Swedish legal system with all defendants maintaining their innocence. If convicted, the charges of particularly serious drug smuggling carry substantial prison sentences under Swedish law.