Violations of sanctions against Russia have brought regulation offences to a peak – impact of customs crime prevention exceeds EUR 100 million
Last year, Finnish Customs uncovered 6 482 customs offences, over 1 000 cases more than in 2021. There was a particular increase in regulation offences and seizures of medicines classified as narcotic substances. The majority of narcotics arrived in Finland in commercial traffic. The societal impact of Customs’ crime prevention increased to more than 70 million euros last year.
The EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus due to the attack on Ukraine are clearly indicated by the customs crime statistics of last year.
– The huge increase in regulation offences is one of the most significant changes that occurred last year. Last year, the sanctions against Russia and Belarus brought the number of regulation offences taken under preliminary investigation to over 300. Usually there have been only a few cases of suspected regulation offences each year, says Mr Hannu Sinkkonen, Director of Enforcement.
– The share of aggravated regulation offences is significant, and almost 40 such cases ended up under preliminary investigation last year. There has been a notable increase in the total number of customs offences as well and, at the same time, petty offences have decreased. The societal impact of crime prevention by Customs indeed continued to expand last year, and exceeded 100 million euros, Sinkkonen says.
Professional import of narcotics during COVID years
Illicit imports of narcotics took on an increasingly professional nature during the COVID pandemic. The majority of narcotics arrive in Finland in commercial traffic. Narcotics are mainly ordered online, for example on Darknet sites and in discussion groups. Precursors are also imported to Finland, and the final production of narcotics takes place in Finland.
– To an increasing extent, online narcotics trade gives access to new narcotic substances as well. Last year, we encountered about 150 various narcotic substances in Finland, 11 of which were completely new and had not surfaced here ever before.
Finnish Customs seized altogether 1 382 kilograms of narcotics in 2022. The number is almost double compared to 2021, which is partly explained by the increase in the number of khat seizures. However, seizures of amphetamine, hashish and especially marijuana increased notably. Customs seized 86 kilograms of amphetamine and 318 kilograms of marijuana.
As in 2021, Customs seized a record quantity of narcotic medicines in 2022; more than half a million items.
Illicit importation of narcotic substances and medicines continued to take place in postal traffic and express freight. However, as travelling has returned to normal again, private individuals take part in illicit imports as well. Last year, Customs uncovered 1 389 narcotics offences. The number of petty narcotics offences dropped due to the COVID years, but the number of aggravated narcotics offences remained at the same level as before.
Seizures of medicines classified as narcotics have increased. It is also notable that the relative share of narcotic medicines that contain buprenorphine has decreased significantly.
Decrease in seizures of snus, increase in cigarette seizures
Last year, seizures of snus decreased notably. On the other hand, cigarette seizures almost doubled. The number of medicine offences and violations has also climbed. There was a total of 1 420 smuggling offences last year.
– It seems that the trend that emerged during the exceptional years is the more professional character of customs offences. In the future, there will very likely be more cases of smuggling by tourists. These changes have required new capabilities from the authorities, and we at Customs have responded to this challenge intensely. Domestic and international cooperation is also central in this context, says Sinkkonen.
