Finnish Customs seized millions of cigarettes – legal logistics companies are used to cover up criminal activity

Customs carried out a preliminary investigation into the illegal import of cigarettes. More than 10 million cigarettes have been imported to Finland during 2024 and the criminal activity has caused extensive tax losses for the state.

The preliminary investigation has shown that the illegal import chain of cigarettes involved a legitimate foreign transport company. Logistics services were purchased from the company, which are suspected of having been used to bring several consignments of cigarettes to a warehouse in Eastern Uusimaa during the autumn of 2024.

– Criminals exploit legitimate logistics chains and companies to cover up their activities. Pickup, transportation, and storage are ordered for illegal goods just as they would be in a legal delivery process. In the case we investigated, all the imported cigarette consignments were brought in by the same driver. He is one of the suspects in this case and is being held in pre-trial detention, says Janne Mikkonen, investigator in charge.

During the preliminary investigation, Customs took possession of over three million cigarettes. In addition, the investigation revealed that more than 10 million cigarettes have been brought in illegally to Finland. In total, more than 3.5 million euros in import taxes should have been paid for these quantities.

The case was uncovered during an area search related to another matter

The illegal import of cigarettes was uncovered when a warehouse linked to another case was investigated in the autumn of 2024. During the area search, a significant quantity of cigarettes was found in the warehouse, which had been brought in illegally for tax evasion and sales purposes. The offences investigated by Customs are part of a larger criminal case, in which the responsibility for the investigation lies with the Eastern Uusimaa Police.

During the preliminary investigation, several individuals in Estonia and Latvia were apprehended on Customs’ request. Suspects in the case are four citizens of the Baltic countries and they are being held in pre-trial detention in Finland. The case has been investigated as aggravated tax fraud. The preliminary investigation is in its last stages and the criminal case will be forwarded to the Prosecution District of Southern Finland in May for consideration of charges.