Stockholm. GAMBIANS ARRESTED FOR DRUG CRIMES. Heroin trade.

400 of the county's 900 Gambians are involved in drug trade in Stockholm
according to the Police.

The Drug trade in Stockholm is growing at an immense rate. County police
commissioner, Leif Jennekvist, gave an alarming picture of the situation
this Thursday. He points out the African nation Gambia to be responsible
for as good as all of the heroin trade, he also revealed that Somaliska
Foreningen (The Somalian Association) in Stockholm has pleaded to the
prosecutors office to take immediate measures against the strong increase
in the use of Khat. Khat is an amphetamine preparation that is chewed to
the size of a golf ball and which is now flooding, not only Sweden, but
also entire Europe. "Somaliska Foreningen doesn't want the Khat problem
here in Sweden," Jennekvist says. They are scared for their fellow
countrymen, and don't want Swedish youths to get in contact with the drug.

In Somalia, located in eastern Africa, khat is somewhat of a national drug.
It consists of tobacco like leaves that are chewed - in what seems like an
eternity. According to division chief Jan Andersson there is one plane
landing in London a week, with the controversial drug in its baggage space.
Couriers take over, and are sent out in Europe, carrying as much as 15kg of
the drug. "It is a risk free smuggling," Andersson informs. Khat is
strongly habit-forming and has a bracing effect. No arrests have yet been
made in the sale of the drug in Stockholm. That Somaliska Foreningen acts
with preventive purposes is of course appreciated by the Police management.
Khat trade is yet in its infant stage. And the heroin trade at Sergel
plattan (Stockholm's major drug scene) and in Stockholm's most vulnerable
suburbs is at a whole different level. Jan Andersson has made a unique
survey and there exists today no doubt that as good as all of the trade is
organised by a number of heads from Gambia. Andersson has formed a picture
with identified heads and the branches these men have. A unique and yet
scary picture. "It is an organised, mob-like activity, and I am prepared to
take possible diplomatic consequences that the identification of the
Gambian nation can mean. We have names, transactions and we have today,
above all, 48 in custody who have taken part in the heroin trade in
different ways," says Jennekvist.

According to the County's Police department there is about 900 Gambians in
Stockholm's county today. And about 400 of these are active in the heroin
trade, as couriers and dealers or in a different way. They are controlled
by a number of heads, of which several have Swedish citizens. The City is
divided in different districts, based on the subway networks reach. The
trade takes place partly at "plattan", and partly in connection to some of
the larger subway stations. Jennekvist paints up a frightening scenario.

The organization recruits new abusers all the time. Every fifth capsule is
free is a well-known sales trick. The dealers keep the capsules in their
mouths, under the upper lip, and in case of an arrest the capsule is
quickly swallowed. It is the beginning of a complicated process and where
our technical division is put in a trying job. Several narcotics
investigators, and unit chiefs, that Dagens Nyheter has been in touch with
testifies of a miserable situation. Goran Eriksson, reconnaissance chief of
the southern division and drug fighter since 1972 resembles Stockholm to a
drug trade supermarket. "We "serve" the entire northern region and parts of
the southern land. There the Malmo division takes over. We are experiencing
a brake in the trends; there have never been so much drugs in Sweden as it
does now. We get to pay a larger price for a Europe without borders. The
seizures we do have the characteristics of a fire-brigades turn out. We are
always a step behind, that is the frightening truth," Goran Eriksson says.

For the year 1999 the authorities signal for an improvement of the
organization, the reconnaissance groups are going to get better leadership,
there is going to be more narcotics officers out on the streets along with
other resources and strengthening measures. "I am positive to the idea, the
way it is now all my surveillance officers have to stop what they are doing
by 1 am. It is an overtime stop, but the dope and its dealer never rest,"
Eriksson finishes.

Facts/Heroin and Khat:

* Trade organization: Approximately 400 Gambians, living in Stockholm's
county, can all be linked with the open heroin trade according to County
Police commissioner Leif Jennekvist. Khat is distributed via London, a
trade that Somaliska Forreningen wants to end.

* The drug situation in Stockholm: Worse than ever and a steep climbing curve.

* Proposed measures: Jennekvist proposes "the Danish model". A form of
proclaiming a state of emergency that gives authorities the right to
intervene with every Gambian that resides in a public environment, public
squares and subways.

Checked-by: Richard Lake