Suspected aggravated money laundering at Helsinki-Vantaa – 100,000 euros in cash found in suitcases
Customs has investigated a case of attempted smuggling of cash and valuables which was uncovered during a customs control. Approximately 100,000 euros in cash suspected to have originated from criminal activity was concealed in the luggage. The case has been investigated as an aggravated money laundering offence.
In the beginning of 2026, a customs control was carried out at Helsinki-Vantaa airport on two individuals who were to travel from Paris via Helsinki-Vantaa to Hong Kong. In the customs control, 100,000 euros in cash was found hidden in the luggage inside two suitcases registered under the name of one of the suspects. The suspects had seven suitcases in total, into which they had packed around 290,000 euros worth of valuables such as jewellery, designer clothing and watches.
“We have reason to suspect that the funds found in the possession of the suspects do not originate from a lawful source, and that the money was intended to be routed through the legal payment system. The intention was to conceal the true origin of the money. There is also reason to suspect that the acquisition of valuables has been aimed at obscuring the origin of illegal money. The suspects have not been able to disclose the origin of the money or, for example, how the money is related to them,” says investigator in charge Veli Loikkanen.
The preliminary investigation has shown that the suspects have travelled to different parts of Europe and acquired valuables. When they left Paris for their return trip to China, they hid the cash they received among the valuables. Based on the preliminary investigation, there is reason to suspect that the suspects have acted as part of an organised group whose goal has been to transfer a significant amount of cash outside the European Union.
Exports of cash worth at least 10,000 euros outside the EU must be declared to Customs
The transport of cash is not prohibited, but the legislation requires that cash of at least 10,000 euros exported outside the European Union must be declared to the authorities. A cash declaration must always be submitted in the country where you leave the EU territory. The required declaration for the sum of money involved in the case had not been submitted to Customs. Customs monitors the movement of cash across the EU's external border to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.
During the preliminary investigation, Customs has engaged in international cooperation with Europol and several European countries. The suspects are Chinese citizens and they are currently in pretrial detention. The cash and valuables are under seizure. The preliminary investigation is about to be completed and the case will be forwarded to the Prosecution District of Southern Finland for consideration of charges at the end of March.