The stability in drug prices comes as Swedish customs have made record seizures, including three tons of cocaine in the port of Helsingborg. However, large seizures typically have no long-term effect on market prices, according to Stefan Granath, deputy head of the control department at Tullverket. He told Aftonbladet that while a seizure may cause a short-term price spike, the cartels behind the drug trade can quickly replace the seized drugs, neutralizing the loss.
Additionally, drugs seized in large quantities are not always intended for the Swedish market, so seizures may not affect local supply. Despite the limited impact on prices, Granath emphasized that customs' work has significant effects because it removes enormous economic value from criminal networks. He noted that as long as there is demand, there will always be a market for drugs.
According to Aftonbladet, Granath described that no country has succeeded in eliminating the drug market; the goal is to limit it and keep it at as low a level as possible. The exact current street prices for different drugs in Sweden have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear how much cocaine is consumed annually in the country or how Swedish prices compare to other European nations.