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The Nordic Times

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/cocaine-scandal-sparks-calls-for-drug-testing-in-swedish-riksdag/

Sweden

Cocaine scandal sparks calls for drug testing in Swedish Riksdag

Published January 19, 2024 – By Editorial staff
Traces of cocaine use have been found on the premises of a number of Sweden's parliamentary parties.
4 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Recently, journalists from infamous tabloid magazine Aftonbladet, owned by Schibsted and LO, revealed that traces of cocaine had been found in the party rooms of several parliamentary parties and in office toilets in the Swedish Riksdag.

The scandal has become a hot topic of discussion and led to calls for MPs and other staff to be drug tested.

According to Aftonbladet, the tests were conducted in the parties' parliamentary offices (with the exception of the Moderate Party, where the test was conducted in the party room) in connection with various interviews.

So-called cocaine napkins were used for the tests. The napkins turn blue when they absorb the drug, for example when wiping surfaces. The newspaper then had the napkins tested in a laboratory.

– We found cocaine in all the samples we received, says Anders Helander, a hospital chemist and researcher at the Karolinska Institutet who conducted the tests.

At present, it is virtually impossible to determine how long the traces have been there or who is responsible. Access to the site requires an access card or an invitation from someone with an access card.

An official of one of the parties concerned wonders how drugs can be in the office if parties are not allowed there, and explains that "many people have access to the party premises and that in the worst case it could be politicians who have used the drug.

– It might as well be an elected official, and that is not good.

Four parties on cocaine list

The parties whose samples showed traces of cocaine are the Left Party, the Social Democrats, the Liberals, the Social Democrats and the Sweden Democrats.

In connection with the revelation, representatives of the identified parties have expressed "seriousness" and "surprise", but point out that the toilets in question could, for example, have been used by visitors.

The Liberals said they would conduct their own tests. The Social Democrats and Sweden Democrats say they will contact the parliament's administration, and the Left Party intends to contact the parliament's chief security officer.

– It's a toilet that many people can use, but you shouldn't take drugs, that's the simple message, says Liberal Party leader Johan Pehrson to TT.

Drug lord Tony Montana has long been a symbol of cocaine in popular culture. Photo: facsimile/Universal Studios

Åkesson wants drug tests

SD leader Jimmie Åkesson is in favour of drug testing in parliament.

– I don't know what the law says about the possibility of doing it, but I think it would be perfectly reasonable to do it in this workplace just like everyone else, says the SD leader.

The leader of the Christian Democrats, Ebba Busch, whose party does not yet appear in the context, is dismayed and says that the parliament is a workplace that should be drug-free.

– It has a very strong symbolic value if drug-free conditions are not maintained in a place that also concerns Sweden's highest decision-making assembly.

Strong public reaction

The public has reacted strongly to the discovery and, as usual, people on social media have posted many ironic and satirical clips as well as posts of a highly critical nature. On X, the profile @anilsasikter reacts to what he sees as inappropriate behavior by the leader of the Left Party, Nooshi Dadgostar who, instead of responding to the scandal in a serious way, asks the reporter if it "wouldn't be funny" if they tested the offices of Aftonbladet for cocaine instead.

https://twitter.com/anilsasikter/status/1747625271413346347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1747625271413346347%7Ctwgr%5E69ae6d0aa173f5667f229020683420f17eb56db1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnyadagbladet.se%2Finrikes%2Fkokainskandal-i-riksdagen-sd-vill-drogtesta-politiker%2F

Common to all the criticism is what can be read and interpreted as contempt for politicians. Something that our elected representatives would probably like to see less of, not least in times of difficult economic conditions for many households.

Police involved

Due to the serious nature of the information, the parliamentary administration is involved and is working with the police in the matter. According to Niklas Åström, head of security at the Parliamentary Administration, a police report has been filed.

– We have of course reacted - it is of course unacceptable to have what can be assumed to be criminal activity on parliamentary premises, he says in a comment to TT.

– We must continue our efforts to work for a strong security culture in the Riksdag, both for those who work here and for all those who visit the Riksdag temporarily. We work together with the parties and the party offices. There are people responsible for security, and this work involves identifying preventive measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again, says Niklas Åström.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-public-broadcaster-aired-ai-generated-clip/

Sweden

Swedish public broadcaster aired AI-generated clip

Published yesterday 11:12 am – By Editorial staff
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

During Sunday evening's SVT Agenda, an AI-generated video was broadcast without the editorial team being aware of it. The clip appeared to show a confrontation between a New York police officer and an agent from the federal immigration agency ICE.

The video was part of a longer report about tensions in the United States surrounding deportations of undocumented migrants, where ICE operations have led to conflicts with local police in several Democrat-controlled cities.

The AI-generated material was shown on two occasions: first in the program's intro and then as part of the longer US report.

— It is unfortunate that we mistakenly published an AI-generated clip. The audience should always be able to trust that images in Agenda are authentic, says Agenda's editor-in-chief Michael Kucera.

The broadcast has been temporarily removed from SVT Play (the broadcaster's streaming service). A corrected version will be published as soon as possible, along with a correction notice. The editorial team states that they are now reviewing their procedures to avoid similar errors in the future.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/residents-in-vulnerable-areas-most-supportive-of-swedens-new-return-grant/

Sweden

Residents in vulnerable areas most supportive of Sweden’s new return grant

Population replacement in the West

Published November 17, 2025 – By Editorial staff
After the Swedish government, together with the Sweden Democrats party, significantly raised the cap for return migration grants, support for receiving the grant is now increasing among certain immigrant groups.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Swedish government's significant increase of the return migration grant at the turn of the year is meeting mixed reactions among the population. A new opinion poll shows that support is strongest among foreign-born residents in so-called vulnerable areas – and weakest among left-wing voters.

At the same time, debate is growing about how the grant should be used and what effects it may have for municipalities and the state.

When the Tidö government (Sweden's center-right coalition government) raises the return migration grant from approximately €900 to €31,000 at the turn of the year, the goal is to encourage more migrants who are deemed difficult to integrate to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.

The reform has created extensive political debate, not least after several red-green (left-wing) municipalities indicated their opposition to the measure.

This has led representatives from the Tidö parties and the Sweden Democrats to question whether state support should continue to municipalities that do not participate in the program.

Now a new survey from Indikator Opinion, commissioned by the Järvaveckan Foundation, shows that support for the significantly increased grant varies greatly between different groups.

Support varies greatly

According to the survey, attitudes are significantly more positive among foreign-born residents living in vulnerable areas than in the rest of the country.

In these areas, 39 percent say they are positive about an increased return migration grant, while 30 percent are negative. In the rest of the country – including both native Swedes and immigrants – the proportion of positive responses is 27 percent and the proportion of negative responses is 38 percent.

The most positive group is migrants who have lived in Sweden for less than five years and who also live in vulnerable areas. There, 46 percent say they view the grant increase positively.

Ahmed Abdirahman, CEO of the Järvaveckan Foundation, believes the reaction says something important about how people experience their situation in Sweden.

— That support for an increased return migration grant is greater among foreign-born residents in vulnerable areas may seem surprising at first glance. But the results show how complex the question of integration is. I see it as a sign that we need to talk more about opportunities, not just about benefits. When people don't feel included in nation-building, the willingness to consider other alternatives also increases, he says.

Right-wing voters more positive

The survey also shows large differences between different party sympathies. Among Sweden Democrats' voters, 47 percent are positive about the grant increase, while the corresponding proportion among Christian Democrats' voters is 45 percent.

The least support is found among Left Party and Green Party sympathizers, where a majority view the government's direction negatively.

Per Oleskog Tryggvason, opinion director at Indikator Opinion, emphasizes that the proposal is still unpopular among broader segments of voters.

— A significantly increased return migration grant is a relatively unpopular proposal among Swedish voters – clearly more people think it's bad than think it's good. Even though the proposal is significantly more popular among the Tidö parties' voters, there is a considerable proportion of right-wing voters who are skeptical. Based on these figures, it doesn't appear to be an election-winning proposal, he says.

The grant increase takes effect at the turn of the year. How many people will actually choose to apply remains to be seen – interest has been lukewarm so far, but the government hopes the new amount will change the situation.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-public-health-agency-wants-to-classify-red-fly-agaric-as-narcotics/

Sweden

Swedish Public Health Agency wants to classify red fly agaric as narcotics

Published November 14, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Products containing muscimol from fly agaric mushrooms have become increasingly popular and are often sold as natural medicine. Now the Swedish Public Health Agency (Folkhälsomyndigheten) wants the government to stop the trade by classifying the substance as narcotics.

The fly agaric has long been regarded as a symbol of poisonous mushrooms, but it is not quite as toxic as the destroying angel (Amanita virosa) – which is deadly. Historically, the fly agaric is said to have been used by Siberian shamans, among others, to alter their state of consciousness in order to establish contact with the spirit world in rituals.

In Sweden during the 1800s, people hardly ate any mushrooms at all, but the fly agaric was still considered useful as it was used as an insecticide against flies, from which it also got its name. When food became scarce for Swedes, authorities tried to encourage more mushroom consumption, which briefly led to a group of mushroom enthusiasts claiming that the fly agaric was edible, something that Populär Historia has written about. During the 1970s, the mushroom began to acquire its bad reputation after new knowledge about mushroom species began to take shape.

Poses a risk

Muscimol is a psychoactive substance that can produce sedative and hallucinogenic effects, and today the substance is often promoted by so-called alternative health groups as a remedy for sleep disorders, among other things. So-called retreats are even organized where participants ingest the mushroom in ceremonial settings.

Now the Swedish Public Health Agency wants to classify the substance as narcotics. According to the agency, the substance is currently available for purchase as candy and in e-cigarettes through various online stores, and they emphasize that the mushroom is poisonous and that people are exposing themselves to risk. In addition to relatively common symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and hallucinations, there are reports of people falling into comas after taking the preparation.

— It has properties that pose a danger to people's lives and health and which can be assumed to be used for the purpose of achieving intoxication, said Adli Assali, head of unit at the Swedish Public Health Agency, to P3 Nyheter.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned trade in muscimol at the end of last year. This summer, the Swedish Public Health Agency initiated its own investigation following a request from the Swedish Customs Service (Tullverket), which had seized the substance at border controls. The Swedish government will now decide whether the substance should be classified as narcotics in Sweden.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-prison-service-opposes-plan-to-lower-criminal-age-to-13/

Sweden

Swedish Prison Service opposes plan to lower criminal age to 13

Published November 12, 2025 – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Swedish government's proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 is facing strong criticism. In its consultation response, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården) states that it is not equipped to receive such young children in prison and that they should be cared for in other ways.

By July 1 next year, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service is expected to have built prison units for children where both 15–17-year-olds and 13–14-year-olds convicted of serious crimes will serve sentences. At the same time, places at the special youth homes (SiS homes, state-run institutions for youth care) will be phased out.

In the consultation response, the Prison and Probation Service writes that imprisonment at a young age can lead to negative consequences, and that children "as young as 13 should be cared for in other ways".

— These concerns become more significant the younger the children in question are, says Elisabeth Lager, acting legal director, to TT.

The Prison and Probation Service is clear that the organization does not have the required resources. It lacks both the expertise and suitable facilities to handle children as young as 13 within prisons, detention centers, or community-based sanctions such as probation. Practical issues such as education must also be addressed. At the same time, it is noted that the level of the age of criminal responsibility is ultimately a political matter.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer writes that the government will "carefully analyze all consultation responses". He emphasizes that society must "care for children in a completely different way than today" in cases of the most serious crimes, both to protect victims and society, but also the children themselves.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com