Riksrevisionen Criticizes Swedish Police and Customs for Ineffective Fight Against Illegal Firearms

A recent report by Riksrevisionen strongly condemns the Swedish Police (Polismyndigheten) and Customs (Tullverket) for their insufficient and ineffective efforts to combat illegal firearms in Sweden. The 2026 review highlights several systemic shortcomings including an unclear strategy, poor communication, and inadequate follow-up on confiscated weapons.

The report points out that the National Firearm Center, established in 2023 as a combined initiative between the agencies, is hampered by a lack of full-time staff and a leader with authority to steer operations, resulting in no clear strategic direction. Riksrevisionen also noted that the IT systems currently used are inadequate for compiling, analyzing, and sharing essential information, forcing skilled personnel to spend excessive time on manual tasks rather than focusing on intelligence work.

Riksrevisionen’s project leader, Sara Kramers, emphasized the police’s need to improve their documentation of firearm discoveries and their timing to enhance follow-up efforts. The report further states that the high levels of gun violence have forced Polismyndigheten into a reactive posture, limiting their ability to proactively detect and prevent smuggling and distribution of illegal firearms.

In response, Hanna Olsson, head of Customs’ intelligence department, acknowledged the criticisms but affirmed that the agencies do collaborate well and are actively working to improve internal communication and other identified weaknesses.

This Riksrevisionen report sheds light on significant challenges facing Swedish law enforcement’s fight against illegal firearms, calling for urgent reforms to ensure more effective strategies, better coordination, and technological upgrades to strengthen the country’s security infrastructure.