Sweden seeks 2 Britons for smuggling garlic

[January 10, 2013]  STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Swedish prosecutors say they have issued international arrest warrants for two Britons suspected of masterminding a smuggling ring involving over a ton of Chinese garlic.

Prosecutor Thomas Ahlstrand says the men first shipped the garlic to Norway by boat, where it entered the country duty-free since it was considered to be in transit. They then drove the approximately 1.2 tons of garlic across the Swedish border, avoiding customs checks and Swedish import duties.

Ahlstrand said Wednesday the men avoided some euro10 million ($13.1 million) in Swedish taxes through the scheme.

The prosecutor says a lengthy police investigation led to the identification of the two British allegedly behind the operation, which took place in 2009-2010.

[Associated Press]

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