Swedish police chief reassigned after relatives linked to major drug operation

The Swedish Police Authority has reassigned a high-ranking police chief after two relatives were detained in connection with Operation Candy, an international crackdown on large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering, SVT Nyheter reports.

Two individuals with family ties to the police chief have been remanded in custody as part of the operation. One was detained Thursday on suspicion of aggravated money laundering, charges they deny. The second is suspected of involvement in a money laundering scheme alleged to have spanned nearly nine years.

In a statement to SVT, the Police Authority confirmed the reassignment, clarifying that the officer held a “limited part-time role” rather than a full-time position. The decision was made because the case involved the same type of criminal investigations overseen by the officer’s unit.

“The Police Authority works proactively to prevent conflicts of interest or potential bias in daily operations,” the statement read.

Despite the incident, the authority affirmed its continued confidence in the officer, who currently leads multiple key investigations. “Ongoing security reviews are standard throughout employment, and the agency maintains full trust in the employee,” the statement added.

The officer in question consented to the authority’s detailed explanation of the reassignment.