An organization, mainly operated from abroad is suspected of smuggling more than 230 kilograms of marijuana into Finland, said Finnish Customs in a press release on Monday.
Customs and the Police in Southwestern Finland have together investigated the organisation that brought in and distributed marijuana.
The street value of the narcotics that have ended up in Turku and the Uuusimaa regions is close to 4 million euros.
The preliminary investigation is concluded and the case has been forwarded to the Prosecution District of Southern Finland for consideration of charges.
In late summer 2022, Customs and the police seized almost 40 kilograms of marijuana and about 95 000 euros in cash from the marijuana import and distribution organisation under investigation.
The cash is suspected to be partly proceeds of crime from marijuana already in circulation and partly for payment for a new imported batch.
The organisation is suspected of having brought in to Finland over 230 kilograms of marijuana since the end of 2021. It is suspected that over twenty batches have been imported.
“Marijuana was imported from Spain and Italy to Finland in commercial transport structures, and express courier shipments were used in the importation. Based on the preliminary investigation we carried out, the organisation’s activities were managed from Spain and typically the individuals contacted each other via various instant messaging services”, said Customs’ Investigator in charge, Tero Virtanen.
“The narcotics were first imported to the Helsinki region, where they were stored in private dwellings and hired storage facilities acquired specifically for this purpose. The marijuana was transported from the Helsinki region e.g. to Turku and the Uusimaa area where it was distributed onward,” said Police Lieutenant Markus Laine of the Southwestern Finland Police Department.
More than 15 individuals are suspected of having participated in the activities of the organisation. Several individuals are still being detained.
Each has had their own designated role in the organisation’s operation.
The proceeds from selling the marijuana has mainly been sent abroad. The money has been taken out of Finland by money couriers hired for this purpose, and through money transfers made by private individuals.
Marijuana worth €4m smuggled into Finland from Spain, Italy