Eastern Uusimaa police and Finnish Customs uncovered a large-scale organisation importing and distributing drugs, including Alpha-PVP
Together with Finnish Customs, Eastern Uusimaa police have investigated a large international organised crime group, consisting mostly of Estonian individuals, which operated between 2023 and 2025. The organisation is suspected of having smuggled hundreds of kilos of various drugs, including Alpha-PVP, into Finland, mainly from Latvia via Estonia.
During the pretrial investigation, Eastern Uusimaa police and Finnish Customs worked closely with the Northern Prefecture narcotics unit of the Estonian Police, the Central Criminal Police Department of the Latvian State Police and Eurojust.
“Eastern Uusimaa police had earlier investigated extensive criminal activities related to the distribution of Alfa-PVP, which were mainly led by Latvian nationals. The investigation, conducted in cooperation with Customs, was a continuation of these criminal investigations, and the police sought to gain deeper insight into the import organisation,” says investigation lead Tero Tyynelä.
“With regard to Customs, the investigation kicked off through international cooperation. Once the investigation had begun, it was noticed that the criminal case was linked to a series of crimes being investigated by Eastern Uusimaa Police Department. Once cooperation had begun, a division of roles was quickly agreed upon, with Customs being responsible for getting to the bottom of the import organisation,” explains investigation leader Tero Virtanen.
Investigation established leadership structures, import arrangements and sellers
During the investigation, it was possible to broadly determine the organisation’s leadership structures in Latvia and Estonia, import arrangements, and wholesalers operating in Finland. The organisation's activities were well-organised and the various actors had clear roles in importation and further distribution. In addition to the organisation's leadership, individuals acted as drug smugglers, recipients of contraband consignments, and stashers of drug consignments. Besides these individuals, there were separate drug distribution organisations and individuals who acquired apartments for their activities, as well as individuals who collected criminal proceeds from drug distribution and forwarded them abroad.
The activities were professional, and the organisation sought to ensure that individuals working at different levels did not come into direct contact with each other.
The preliminary investigation also revealed that disciplinary measures within the organisation involved violence against members.
Different methods used in importing
Investigations conducted by the police and Finnish Customs showed that the organisation used foot passengers, hidden compartments in vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles to import narcotics to Finland from Latvia via Estonia.
The imported drugs were mainly delivered to stashes in forests in various parts of southern Finland, from where the distribution network picked them up for further distribution. The distribution network used apartments rented specifically for this purpose in various parts of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area to store and distribute the drugs.
Asa result of the suspected crime, the police and customs authorities have questioned dozens of people and apprehended a number of individuals in Finland and abroad. Seventeen people remain in custody, and three people have been apprehended abroad under European arrest warrants.
Organisation suspected of having distributed several different narcotic substances
The organisation is suspected of having distributed several different narcotic substances including Alpha-PVP, cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA, ecstasy, marijuana, and hashish.
The entire pretrial investigation has been forwarded to the Prosecution District of Southern Finland for the consideration of charges.