The customs authority seized over 4 million Swedish kroner: – One of the largest in Norwegian history

The seizure is one of the largest currency seizures in Norwegian history, according to the Norwegian Customs Authority’s seizure overview. Only three other seizures have been larger in the past ten years, the largest of which was 30 million in 2022.

It was on the second weekend in April that a Norwegian-registered vehicle with two people was stopped by customs officers after entering a border crossing in Eastern Norway.

The car and the people were taken to the local customs office for inspection. In the car, customs officials found several plastic bags containing stacks of Swedish banknotes.

Watch video from the archive: Monty smelled illegal money in his underpants

– Networks with a large need for money laundering

In total, approximately SEK 4.2 million was uncovered.

– The mode and size of the seizure indicate that organized criminal networks are behind the smuggling, says director of customs Øystein Børmer in a press release.

The persons were arrested, and the matter has been reported to the police.

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The Norwegian Customs Board states that it is mainly criminal networks with a great need for money laundering that are behind currency smuggling in the country. This money is often used to maintain criminal activities or commit new criminal acts.

Second big seizure in a short time

– Such currency seizures contribute to making it less lucrative to conduct drug trafficking or other crimes against Norway. The more we manage to uncover such currency smuggling, the less attractive Norway becomes for foreign criminals, Børmer explains.

The customs seizure is the second major currency seizure in a short time. In March, customs officials at Ørje stopped a person who tried to smuggle a total of NOK 1.4 million hidden in a package of nappies. This case is also under investigation by the police.

The Norwegian Customs Service estimates that several billion kroner worth of cash is smuggled in Norway every year.