Swedish customs makes record drug bust, seizing 351 kg amphetamine

HELSINKI, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Customs announced Friday that it has made the largest amphetamine seizure in the country's history, confiscating 351 kg of the drug during the arrest of a truck driver earlier this year.

According to a statement from the customs authority, the discovery occurred on the evening of Feb. 28 when a Slovenian-registered tractor-trailer arrived by ferry in the southern Swedish port city of Malmo from Germany. The vehicle, which had declared its cargo as metal, was found to contain 351 kg of amphetamine, 9 kg of heroin, and 3 kg of cocaine.

Ingrid Lamberth, group manager at the Criminal Division South of Swedish Customs, said the drugs were found during a thorough inspection of the vehicle with the help of a drug detection dog.

"This is the largest single seizure of amphetamine Swedish Customs has ever made," Lamberth said. "We are proud to have prevented these drugs from reaching society."

The street value of the drugs is estimated at approximately 80 million Swedish kronor (around 8.43 million U.S. dollars). The 46-year-old truck driver is now charged with particularly serious narcotics smuggling. The investigation remains ongoing. (1 Swedish kronor = 0.11 U.S. dollar) Enditem