Financial Crime World

Swedish Economic Crime Authority: Leading the Charge against Financial Crimes with 700 Agents and SEK 856M Budget

In the heart of Stockholm, the Swedish Economic Crime Authority (SECA), or Ekobrottsmyndigheten as it is known locally, is leading the charge against financial wrongdoing in Sweden.

About SECA

Established in 1998, this government agency, a joint effort between the Ministry of Justice and the Swedish police, stands tall as the country’s main force against economic crime:

  • Team: A team of 700 dedicated agents
  • Budget: An annual budget of SEK 856M
  • Mandate: To investigate and prosecute financial misdeeds

SECA’s jurisdiction covers a wide range of offenses:

  • Bookkeeping violations
  • Creditors’ dishonesty
  • Financial market abuses
  • Money laundering
  • Tax fraud
  • EU fraud

Unique Structure

A unique aspect of SECA is its ability to house both police officers and prosecutors under one roof. This integrated structure enables swift and efficient collaboration:

  1. Locally: Ten local public prosecution offices
  2. Operations: Five operational police units

Leadership

Director-General Monica Rodrigo leads SECA’s operations.

History

Historically, SECA was founded to preserve the expertise of experienced police officers and prosecutors who too often found themselves reassigned to cases unrelated to economic crime. The agency’s creation allowed these professionals to focus solely on investigating and prosecuting financial crimes:

Ensuring that the Swedish people’s assets and finances are protected.

Organization

The organizational structure of SECA consists of:

  • Ten Local Public Prosecution Offices: Working on the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes.
  • Five Operational Police Units: Specializing in functions such as surveillance and criminal intelligence.

Budget

SECA operates under a significant budget:

[3] Regeringskansliet. (2014). Budget for the justice system 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from https://government.se/government-offices/ministry-of-justice/press-releases/2014/11/27/budget-for-the-justice-system-2014/

For more information, visit:

[1] Swedish Economic Crime Authority. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from https://www.ekobrottsmyndigheten.se/english/about-us/

[2] Swedish Economic Crime Authority. (n.d.). Organization. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from https://www.ekobrottsmyndigheten.se/english/organization/