Friday, September 5, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Black Swan: Controversial Danish documentary exposing organized crime premieres in Sweden

organized crime

Published 18 June 2024
– By Editorial Staff
The documentary has caused quite a stir in Denmark.
3 minute read

The acclaimed documentary The Black Swan (Den sorte svane) has exposed links between criminals and the top echelons of society in Denmark and sparked a huge debate. Now the documentary comes to Sweden, where experts warn that the situation could be even worse.

In a unique collaboration with Danish TV2, lawyer Amira Smajic helped expose widespread money laundering and corruption in large parts of Danish society. She mapped professional criminals and their networks, resulting in several high-profile individuals being reported to the police.

For two years she worked as a mole, using hidden cameras in her office to document the underworld’s dealings with lawyers and businessmen, among others, reports Bonnier-controlled Dagens Nyheter.

– If you don’t do something drastic, nothing will change, she says in the documentary.

But Smajic played a double game. She ran another office in addition to the bugged one, and when confronted about it, she withdrew from the collaboration and tried to stop the documentary.

Nevertheless, The Black Swan was broadcast following a Danish court order. Amira Smajic has made several attempts to stop the series, but has been denied by various courts. She is now living under protection in a secret location.

Political uproar and criticism

The documentary has caused a great stir in Denmark, shedding light on a long-standing issue that has now received further attention through Amira Smajic’s revelations. Since the broadcast, a lawyer, a real estate developer and a high-ranking businessman have been reported to the police.

The government has called emergency meetings and prime minister Mette Fredriksen has promised new tools for the authorities to fight money laundering.

At the same time, TV2 has been criticized for its methods. Methods that are believed to have facilitated new crimes. TV2 news director Ulla Pors defends the methods.

– In our opinion, Amira Smajic’s work for TV2 does not initiate criminal acts that would most likely not have occurred otherwise, she says.

Mette Fredriksen has promised new tools for Danish authorities to fight money laundering in the wake of the “Black Swan” case. Photo: PES Communications/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Controversial methods

During the making of the documentary, TV2 deviated from its normal press ethics and also entered into a dialog with the Danish police to ensure Amira Smajic’s safety.

She was also paid DKK 30,000 a month for her work, and the decision to use a hidden camera was justified on the grounds that it was the only way to document the shadowy activities, explains Michael Nørgaard, editorial director of TV2’s documentary department.

– It was a difficult decision for TV2 to broadcast the series when the mole withdrew his consent. But both the Danish District and County Courts came to the same conclusion as we did: that Amira gave her consent in an enlightened state of mind, where she could foresee the consequences of publication. That is why we decided to publish. But it’s no secret that we would have preferred to publish with Amira’s consent, says Michael Nørgaard in a comment.

Researchers warn against Swedish conditions

Criminologist David Sausdal, who works at Lund University, believes that the situation in Sweden may be even worse than in Denmark. He points out that shootings and death rates are significantly higher in Sweden.

– There is a lot of evidence that it is probably even worse here. If you look at the number of shootings and deaths, they are five to ten times higher in Sweden, with many thousands of gang criminals. The black swan also exists in Sweden, and it is much bigger than in Denmark, says Sausdal.

Now that the Swedish premiere is over, it is easy to assume that the debate on money laundering and crime will gain new momentum in Sweden as well, and the question of working methods to uncover serious and systemic social problems will become increasingly relevant.

The Black Swan (Den sorte svane)

Danish documentary series in five parts showing how people in the serious criminal environment cooperate with respected and superficially law-abiding lawyers, business owners and officials to launder money and circumvent / deceive authorities. The series is produced by Danish TV2 and Norwegian NRK, among others. The series premiered in Sweden on June 16 on SVT and SVT Play, then called "Den svarta svanen".

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Police warn of persistently high violence in Sweden

organized crime

Published 27 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The current extensive gang-related violence is now to be considered a permanent feature in Sweden, according to police.
3 minute read

After a series of shootings and explosions in the Stockholm area in recent weeks, police do not want to speak of a temporary wave of violence. Instead, the regional police chief describes the situation as a “constantly high level of violence in Sweden”.

Upplands Väsby, Kallhäll, Viksjö, Bromma and Sätra – the list of places in the Stockholm area that have been hit by shootings and bombings recently continues to grow.

Most recently, during the night leading to Wednesday, an extensive police operation was underway in Viksjö, northwest of Stockholm, after a shooting at a gas station where two people were injured. Shortly before, on August 25, two people were shot dead in a car in a parking lot in nearby Kallhäll. Police cannot yet answer whether there are connections between the various incidents.

Despite the recent concentration of violent crimes in northern Stockholm, police do not want to use the term “wave of violence” to describe the development.

— I would rather say that we have seen a number of completed crimes in a short time and with a clear geographical limitation to northern Stockholm, says Magnus Mowitz, regional police chief for Stockholm north, on Swedish public television SVT’s morning show.

He emphasizes that police have simultaneously succeeded in preventing a series of planned violent crimes, but acknowledges the grim reality:

— The term wave of violence is not something we use, however we can see that there are violent crimes that continuously occur. We have a constantly high level of violence in Sweden, he states.

Thousands of gang criminals

Before the 1990s, gang crime was essentially an unknown phenomenon in Sweden, where the organized crime that did exist was mainly linked to motorcycle gangs and where violent confrontations with firearms and explosives on open streets were virtually non-existent. Sweden was long one of Europe’s safest countries with one of the world’s lowest murder rates.

Over the past three decades, however, the situation has changed dramatically. In pace with unlimited mass immigration from conflict-affected areas in the Third World, criminal networks have been established in suburbs around the country.

From being concentrated in the metropolitan areas’ vulnerable neighborhoods, gang crime has now spread to virtually all Swedish cities of any size, and police estimate that today the number of active individuals in the criminal networks amounts to more than 14,000 individuals – from Malmö in the south to Kiruna in the north.

Turning over multi-billion amounts annually

The criminal networks are not only engaged in spectacular bombings and murders. Drug trafficking still forms the backbone of the operations, but the gangs have significantly diversified their criminal activities. Extortion of business owners, particularly in the suburbs, has become increasingly common, and welfare fraud through fake assistance companies and other schemes drain billions from taxpayers every year.

Human trafficking, arms smuggling, theft gangs and receiving stolen goods are also part of the repertoire, while money laundering occurs through real estate investments, currency exchange offices and cryptocurrencies.

Exactly how much money organized crime turns over each year is impossible to answer, but estimates from police suggest it amounts to approximately €9-14 billion annually.

Lawyers and accountants help criminal networks in Sweden

organized crime

Published 22 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Respectable professional groups often sell services to criminal networks for money laundering and shell companies.
2 minute read

False identities, corruption and violence. Organized crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated and poses a growing threat to Swedish society, shows a new situation report from 14 Swedish authorities.

Drug crimes, fraud, environmental crimes and organized theft are identified as the greatest societal threats from organized crime. Behind the crimes lies an advanced criminal infrastructure where gang criminals use false identities and shell companies to launder their criminal proceeds.

The new inter-agency situation report reveals how criminals’ strategies are becoming increasingly advanced. Violence and threats, corruption as well as countermeasures against authority operations are used systematically to protect criminal activities.

— We see, among other things, that crimes that affect many people and companies in everyday life, volume crimes, are very organized and often carried out very professionally, so we cannot just investigate these crimes away, they must also be prevented, says Johan Olsson, chairman of the operational council and head of the Swedish police’s national operational department (NOA).

Lawyers and accountants help criminals

The report identifies five crime areas that contain all six types of criminal infrastructure: drug crimes, fraud, environmental crimes, organized theft crime and crimes against international sanctions. Almost as serious are VAT fraud, excise tax crimes and organized crime in working life.

A central part of the criminal structure is so-called enablers – people who sell their services to criminal networks. This involves everything from money laundering and transport to arranging companies and false identities. According to the report, these enablers are often found among professional groups such as lawyers, brokers and accountants.

The authorities warn that criminals are expected to adapt further to avoid prosecution. Several worrying trends are already visible: criminals use foundations and non-profit associations for their activities, protect assets through false documents and identities, and move operations abroad – particularly to countries without extradition agreements with Sweden.

— The situation report shows the importance of countering the criminal economy, more efforts against enablers and strengthening international cooperation in crime fighting. Both in the authorities’ individual work and in the inter-agency initiative, several initiatives are ongoing to strengthen efforts against the problem picture described in the situation report, explains Olsson.

Fewer shootings in Sweden — but bomb attacks have doubled

organized crime

Published 3 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
According to Swedish police, the purpose of the bomb attacks is often to extort, intimidate, or threaten the victims.
2 minute read

The number of shootings in Sweden has almost halved compared to last year – but at the same time, bombings have increased dramatically. According to new statistics from the Swedish Police Authority, over 100 bombing incidents have occurred so far this year, representing a doubling compared to the same period in 2024.

During the first six months of this year, police have recorded 84 shootings. This marks a significant decrease compared to the first half of 2022, when 205 shootings occurred, resulting in 34 deaths and 49 injuries. The number of people injured in shooting incidents has also gradually decreased since then. However, the 2025 statistics include the school attack in Örebro, central Sweden, where ten people lost their lives.

This development comes against the backdrop of Sweden’s long-standing struggles with organized crime, where violent gangs, often with immigrant backgrounds, have spread fear in both major cities and smaller towns. For several years, authorities have struggled to effectively address the escalating violence – but according to police, certain measures are now showing results.

– In both physical and digital environments, as well as in investigations, we are now faster and more efficient, which has enabled us to prevent impending crimes and increase the clearance rate of deadly gang-related violence from about 20-30 percent to about 60 percent in recent years. This partly explains why we’re seeing fewer shootings, says August Knutsson, operational coordinator at the Swedish Police’s National Operations Center.

More bombings during winter months

While shootings have decreased, another form of violence has increased significantly. So far this year, 104 explosions have occurred – double the number compared to the same period in 2024, when 52 bomb attacks were recorded.

– This is obviously serious, and we’ve noticed that criminal groups have shifted their methods and carried out more bombings during winter and spring. Often for extortion purposes, to intimidate or threaten. However, since the beginning of the year, when we saw a sharp increase in completed bombings, they have decreased. We’re arresting more perpetrators during the preparation stage than before, explains Knutsson.

He emphasizes that the situation is still considered very serious and that gang violence could soon escalate again:

– At the same time, the conflict level remains high, and we know from experience that the situation can change rapidly. We’re doing everything we can to keep violence levels down.

Hundreds of gang members control Swedish crime from abroad

organized crime

Published 30 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
A total of 124 internationally wanted criminals with connections to Swedish criminal networks have been arrested in other countries this year.
2 minute read

Hundreds of gang criminals have left Sweden – but continue to pull the strings from abroad.

According to the Swedish Police Authority, around 700 individuals have been identified, and the authority is now intensifying its international efforts to strike back against gangs trying to organize from safe distances.

– As we have developed and changed our working methods, criminals have moved to other countries. Initially, this happened to other European countries, but increasingly to countries outside Europe and the Schengen area, says Stefan Hector, Deputy National Police Commissioner of Sweden, in a press release.

So far this year, 124 internationally wanted persons with connections to Swedish crime have been arrested abroad. This represents a significant increase compared to last year, when the total number of arrests was 86.

According to Hector, it is challenging to apprehend gang leaders and other key figures in countries where legal systems and legislation differ significantly from Sweden’s. To address this, the Swedish Police has initiated cooperation with several key countries – including Turkey, the USA, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates.

– This is difficult and demanding work, and we are working intensively, primarily to build relationships and cooperation with other countries, as we face common problems, he explains.

Beyond arrests, the police are also trying to stop the growing digital recruitment of young people into serious crime. The phenomenon, where gangs lure youth to carry out acts of violence through so-called violence-as-a-service, often resembles regular job advertisements.

The Swedish Police now leads an international task force called OTF Grimm, in collaboration with Europol and authorities from seven other countries, aimed at countering recruitment and violence-for-hire schemes spread online.

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