Customs uncovered marijuana smuggling organisation in Helsinki region
Finnish Customs has seized marijuana worth more than 2 million euros when uncovering an exceptionally large organisation importing marijuana in autumn 2024. It is suspected that the narcotics were smuggled into Finland from Spain and Thailand.
Based on its intelligence and analysis activities, Customs placed a man of foreign origin under surveillance when he arrived at Helsinki Airport from Bangkok. While under surveillance, the man met another man in Espoo, after which both men were apprehended and some 13 kg of marijuana was seized from the suitcase of the man who had arrived from Bangkok.
The investigation revealed that behind the smuggling was a criminal organisation whose activities were ongoing, organised and supervised. The narcotics organisation had rented a fairly large storage space in Espoo, from which 60 kg of marijuana hidden in biscuit boxes was later seized. In addition, Customs suspects that empty biscuit boxes found in the storage space had contained some 30 kg of marijuana.
“The criminal organisation in this case is made up of several members, some of whom still remain at large. We suspect that the organisation smuggled a total of about 100 kg of marijuana to Finland. Around 30 kg of this amount had already been distributed onwards in southern Finland when the organisation’s activities were detected,” says lead investigator Tatu Suvikas.
Dramatic rise in the amount of marijuana seized this year
Customs has remanded three persons of foreign origin on suspicion of several aggravated narcotics offences. None of the persons remanded are permanently resident in Finland. The preliminary investigation has been completed and the criminal matter has been forwarded for consideration of charges.