NCJ Number
86377
Date Published
1982
Length
161 pages
Annotation
An investigation of current Swedish laws on narcotics crimes indicates that many loopholes exist, particularly regarding the financing of narcotics trade and personal criminal responsibility for middle men, such as organized crime groups. Also, a few points in the law regarding legal technicalities in prosecuting offenders are unclear.
Abstract
Most importantly, the law needs to be extended to assign criminal responsibility to persons involved in narcotics manufacture, distribution, financing, and selling arrangements. The present law focuses only on those people in possession of a drug or having had direct contact with the possessor. In short, it is difficult to convict someone who is neither the seller nor buyer. Also, a buyer cannot be arrested while the drug is not in his possession, even though he has already arranged the purchase. Although cultivation of cannibis is prevalent, the law does not regard this as criminal. The Swedish Crime Prevention Council suggests reforms and modifications to the wording in the law. Implementation would mean criminalizing the attempt to perpetrate narcotics crimes, the participation even as a middle man in the manufacture, distribution, or selling of illegal drugs, and the preparation and planning prior to the sale and manufacture. The copy of the current text of the Swedish criminal law concerning narcotics is reproduced alongside the suggested revised text.