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Swedes snatched in global sex-pill sting

Twelve Swedes have been arrested in a global sting targeting illicit trade in Viagra-like impotence medication.

Swedes snatched in global sex-pill sting
The confiscated impotence pills have effects similar to Viagra

Swedish police have hit six online pharmacies and confiscated more than 60,000 pills, Sweden’s TV4 news reports.

The primary products sold by the internet pharmacies are drugs designed to help men achieve and maintain erections.

The value of the confiscated goods is estimated to be around 4 million kronor ($600,000).

The operation was led by Interpol and the raids took place in 48 countries. In Sweden, police raided locations in Stockholm and Södertälje in eastern Sweden, and Kalmar in the south of the country.

The raids were carried out during the past week, according to Varg Gyllander, a spokesperson for the National Criminal Police (Rikskriminalpolisen).

However, Gyllander refused to confirm the number of suspects arrested in the raids.

“A handful of people have been arrested and we’ve also carried out a number of seizures. I can’t say exactly how many have been arrested right now. We’re in the process of tallying everything up,” he told the TT news agency.

According to Gyllander, several of those arrested remain detained and at least one will be remanded into custody.

“The crime they are suspected of is unauthorized trade in pharmaceuticals. For the most part it has to do with impotence medication,” he said.

The Interpol operation wrapped up on Wednesday, but the Swedish police continue their efforts to battle illegal online pharmacies.

“We haven’t seen the last arrest,” said Gyllander.

This is the second time Swedish police have participated in a coordinated international law enforcement operation again internet pharmacies.

The last operation, which took place in November 2009, resulted in the arrest of 22 people following a joint effort by law enforcement agencies in 26 countries.

Four men and one woman were arrested in Sweden on suspicions of having sold prescription diet and erectile dysfunction pills.

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DRUGS

Germany should make cannabis available at pharmacies not ‘coffee shops’, says FDP boss

Germany's possible new government could well relax the country's strict cannabis laws. But FDP leader Christian Lindner says he doesn't want to go down the Netherlands route.

A demonstrator smokes a joint at the pro-cannabis Hanfparade in Berlin in August 2021.
A demonstrator smokes a joint at the pro-cannabis Hanfparade in Berlin in August 2021. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Annette Riedl

The Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) are set to engage in coalition talks in a bid to become the next German government.  And the future of cannabis will likely be one of the topics to be thrashed out.

In drug policy, the three parties are not too far apart in their positions. So it’s possible that the drug could be decriminalised.

However, nothing is set in stone and the parties still haven’t come to a common line on the question of where and to what extent cannabis could be accessed. 

The leader of the Liberal FDP, Christian Lindner, has now come out in favour of allowing cannabis products such as hashish to be sold in a controlled manner. 

Consumers should be allowed “to purchase a quantity for their own use, for example, in a pharmacy after health education,” Lindner told a live broadcast on German daily Bild on Sunday.

Lindner said he was sceptical about the sale in “coffee shops” according to the Dutch model. “I am in favour of controlled distribution, and therefore health education must be able to take place,” he said.

READ MORE: Patients in Germany still face hurdles accessing medical marijuana

People in the Netherlands can access cannabis products in coffee shops under the country’s tolerant drugs policy. However coffee shops have to follow certain strict conditions. For instance they are not allowed to sell large quantities to an individual. 

Lindner said his main aims were about “crime and health prevention” and not with “legalising a right to intoxication”.

It’s not clear if Lindner advocates for prescription-only cannabis for medical use, or an over-the-counter model. 

The FDP previously said that they they are in favour of the creation of licensed shops. Their manifesto highlights the health benefits, tax windfalls and reallocation of police resources that legalisation would create.

The Green party also want licensed shops, as well as a whole new approach to drug control starting with the controlled legalisation of marijuana. The Greens state that “strict youth and user protection” would be the centre point of their legislation and hope to “pull the rug from under the black market”.

The SPD also want a reform of Germany’s prohibition stance – but are more cautious than the smaller parties on the legalisation aspect. They would like to initially set up pilot projects. 

READ ALSO: Why Germany could be on the brink of legalising cannabis

Controversial topic

So far, the sale of cannabis is officially banned in Germany. Possession of cannabis is also currently illegal across the entire country. Those caught carrying the substance can face anything from a fine to five years in jail.

However, the justice system generally looks away if you are caught carry small quantities for personal use unless you have a previous conviction.

The definition of personal use differs from state to state, with Berlin having the most liberal rules and Bavaria the tightest.

It is estimated that around four million people regularly use cannabis in Germany.

Representatives of police unions in Germany have warned against legalisation. They argue that cannabis is an often trivialised drug that can lead to considerable health problems and social conflicts, especially among young people.

Oliver Malchow, from the GdP police union, said that “it doesn’t make any sense to legalise another dangerous drug on top of alcohol”.

The current Ministry of Health also continues to oppose the legalisation of cannabis, a spokesperson for Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) made clear. Cannabis is a dangerous substance and therefore legalisation is not advisable, the spokesman said. 

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