National drug trafficking providing a local drug market in a medium-sized city in Sweden with illegal drugs : A mixed method study

Abstract: Introduction: The Police in Sundsvall has identified a problem of an open drug market in the inner city of Sundsvall. Behind an open drug market there is an organization that consists of several steps. Internet also contributes to a drug trafficking. There is research about how the illegal drugs arrive to Sweden, but no research about what happens with the drugs after they have entered Sweden. Aim: The study aimed to examine how the national drug trafficking provides an illegal local drug market in Sundsvall with illegal drugs in a medium sized city in the middle of Sweden. In order to do so, the researchers studied the most common illegal drugs that are transported to the local market and how the illegal drugs arrive to the local market. Method: This study has a mixed method design and are divided into three parts. The first part is quantitative and consists of statistics from the Board of Customs. The second part is qualitative and consists of interviews with professionals from the Police and Customs and also with former drugs dealers and one heavy user. The third part is also qualitative and consists of interviews from Postnord, DHL, the Customs and the Police. Results: It was concluded in the results that cannabis and amphetamine were the most common illegal drugs on the local market in Sundsvall. It was also found that there are no specific routes that the illegal drugs are transported along to Sundsvall. It rather depends on the contacts that each local seller in Sundsvall has. Internet and the logistic companies were found to play an important role regarding the means for transportation. Discussion: The consequences and underlying causes of the phenomena was discussed. Also, two criminological theories were applied in order to explain what motivates people to involve in the transportation of illegal drugs to the local market and thus why illegal drugs are transported.