Swedish-led drug operation nets 15 more arrests

Swedish and Dutch police have arrested 15 more people in connection with Operation Candy, a cross-border investigation into large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

The latest arrests—14 in Sweden and one in the Netherlands—bring the total number of detentions in the Swedish-led operation to 28. Authorities suspect those arrested of involvement in serious narcotics offenses and major financial crimes.

Earlier this year, police confirmed 13 Swedish nationals had been detained in Sweden, Spain, and Thailand as part of the same operation. Investigators have linked the suspects to multiple criminal networks engaged in high-volume drug distribution and laundering proceeds.

Several of those arrested are men aged 50 to 70. One suspect is reportedly related by marriage to a senior official within the Swedish Police Authority.

The operation is coordinated by Swedish police in collaboration with Europol and law enforcement agencies in several countries.