Sweden, Stung by U.S. Accusations, Attacks Secret Mail Trade in Child Pornography

Stung by U.S. allegations that it is a major source of child pornography around the world, Sweden has launched an assault on the secret trade.

According to U.S. Customs, about 2,000 Swedish mail deliveries of child pornography are confiscated every year, accounting for a sizable proportion of the illegal trade. Many more are thought to reach their destination undetected.

“I would rank Sweden among the top source countries,” Donald Grattan, chief of the Child Pornography and Protection Unit of the U.S. Customs Service in Washington, said.

Launched Investigation

Swedish Chief Prosecutor Per Hakan Bondestam launched a major investigation after receiving an alert from American authorities in October. He said Sweden was probably more a distributor than a producer of the material.

“But it’s hard to judge as the business is highly secretive,” he said.

Authorities have seized videos and magazines showing adults perpetrating sexual acts on small children, including babies as young as 6 months old.

Bondestam said one video showed a 6-year-old boy engaged in oral sex with a man. The distributor was prosecuted and sentenced for child abuse.

Through Paper Companies

Swedish customs officials say the trade is conducted through paper companies with no other means of contact than a post office box.

“I cannot say at this stage how many such companies this case concerns, but they are linked to Stockholm and some other larger cities in Sweden,” Bondestam said.

Grattan said the child pornography industry built on Scandinavia’s image abroad as a haven of free sex--an image contrasting with everyday life in Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

“Sweden is identified in the minds of many as a traditional source country for child erotica and pornography,” he said.

Other European countries named as major shipping centers include Norway, Denmark, West Germany and the Netherlands.

Mild Sentences Decried

Both Grattan and Bondestam believe the problem is exacerbated by the relatively mild sentences handed down by Swedish courts to convicted child abusers.

“Usually it is so difficult to prove these cases that only a fine is imposed on the people involved. In the U.S. the punishment is much harsher,” Bondestam said.

It is not a crime to possess child pornography in Sweden unless it can be proved that the material is intended for sale or distribution.

Dealers Go Underground

Grattan said the pornographic trade followed the pattern of drug smuggling, with dealers going deep underground and devising new ways to avoid detection.

“When dealers sustain losses from seizures, they try to find an alternative approach, making things even more difficult for us,” he said.

Bondestam said many pedophiles, who desire sex with pre-pubescent children, are also making home videos for widespread circulation in order to circumvent the law.

“It is very difficult to find anything concrete. The sex shops know we’re on the lookout and the pedophiles don’t advertise anymore. Nothing is done in the open,” he said.

Film Caused Outcry

A television film describing the plight of millions of abused children recently caused a national outcry here. Swedish social workers and child protection groups say most people do not realize just how widespread the problem is.

Bettan Andersson, who chairs an anti-pornography lobby group, blames ignorance and light sentencing for the illegal trade.

“Worst of all is that people close their eyes to reality. Today women and children are (filmed) being killed in so-called snuff movies. I dread to see what comes next,” she says.