The price of drugs in Sweden remains at low levels in a historical perspective. This is stated by the Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information (CAN) in its annual report on drug price trends in Sweden, which is based on information from the police, among other things.
Compared to 2024, there were no significant changes last year. Nor are there any major price changes compared to 2019, before the pandemic. “This is despite global events in the form of high inflation, a weakening krona exchange rate and historically extensive drug seizures,” writes CAN.
“We can make very large seizures, but they usually never have any long-term effect on market prices,” notes Stefan Granath, deputy head of department at the Customs Control Department.
Seized three tons of cocaine
Granath compares it to today’s oil crisis, where the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz immediately affected fuel prices because it directly reduced the supply of oil. Such major effects are never seen in the drug market, not even when Customs makes huge seizures of tons of cocaine.
Recently, three tons were seized in the port of Helsingborg, which may have had a short-term effect, he says.
“But there are such huge cartels behind it, so they have no problem getting three more tons. You can neutralize a loss pretty quickly, but the economic damage is done.”
Another aspect is that drugs that are seized in large quantities are not always intended for the Swedish market and therefore do not necessarily affect availability here.
Effects anyway
Stefan Granath emphasizes that Swedish Customs' work still has major effects, since enormous economic values are disappearing from criminal gangs.
“So you can certainly crack the economics of a network, but as long as there is demand, there will always be a market.”
The goal is to make it as difficult as possible for people to make a living from criminal drug sales, he says.
“There is no country in the world that has managed to eliminate this. It is about limiting it and trying to keep it as low as possible.”
Hash, SEK 100/gram
Cocaine, SEK 900/gram
Amphetamine, SEK 175/gram
Marijuana, SEK 120/gram
Tramadol, SEK 30 / 100 mg
Ecstasy/MDMA, SEK 123/tablet
Brown heroin, SEK 950/gram
White heroin, SEK 875/gram
LSD, SEK 213/dose
Source: CAN Drug price trends in Sweden 1988–2025
