Sweden ships first prisoners to Estonia in jail deal

The first four Swedish prisoners who will serve their sentences in Estonia have arrived in the Baltic country, Estonian prison authorities say.

The inmates arrived by plane at Ämari military air base before being transferred to a prison in Tartu, Estonia's second-largest city, the Estonian Probation Service said.

Estonia and Sweden reached an agreement in 2025 allowing up to 600 Swedish prisoners to be transferred to the Tartu prison.

Up to 100 inmates are expected to arrive in stages by the end of September, with the number set to rise to 200 by the end of the year.

Under the agreement, Estonia can vet prisoners selected by Sweden and reject them if necessary.

The prisoners will not be allowed outside the prison for temporary release and will be returned to Sweden before completing their sentences.

Sweden has struggled with criminal gangs for years, contributing to growing pressure on the country's prison system and an increasing shortage of prison places.

Estonia, by contrast, has many empty cells and the lowest prison occupancy rate in the European Union.