Swedish police participated in a joint operation against labor market crime led by Europol during week 26.
The operation included inspections in the transport, logistics, construction, agriculture, restaurant, and beauty salon sectors.
During an inspection of an international restaurant chain in Stockholm, two reports were filed for violations of the Aliens Act, and a sanction fine of 25,000 SEK was imposed by the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket). As a result, the municipality ordered the closure of the restaurant.
In another inspection at a slaughterhouse in Vara Municipality, charges were filed for environmental crimes, and orders were given to take corrective actions, including addressing emissions into a river. Accommodation on the premises was banned, and the Swedish Work Environment Authority initiated an investigation into several improper secondments.
Controls conducted at various vegetable farms in the South region led to reports of violations of the Aliens Act, and a fine of over 100,000 SEK was imposed by the Swedish Work Environment Authority.
In total, the operation involved:
- 65,839 individuals
- 22,958 vehicles
- 57 suspects for crimes
- 21 arrests related to human exploitation
- 261 identified victims.
Sweden’s involvement in the operation included:
- 1,060 total controls
- 165 participating police officers
- 135 inspected locations
- 402 individuals checked
- 182 vehicles examined.
Facts about the operation:
- EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) is a European cooperation against organized and serious crime.
- The operation was coordinated in real-time in 5 countries and was coordinated by EMPACT and Europol.
- A joint communication channel (VCP) was established for real-time contact between the participating countries.
- A total of 32 countries participated, and over 11,000 controls were conducted as part of the operation.
https://polisen.se/aktuellt/nyheter/2023/juli/europolinsats-mot-arbetslivskriminalitet/