ORGANIZED CRIME RING SUSPECTED OF SMUGGLING DRUGS WORTH €13 MILLION TO FINLAND.

A Lithuanian organized crime network is suspected of smuggling and distributing large quantities of drugs in Finland between September 2023 and November 2024. Finnish Customs and the Western Uusimaa Police Department's investigation revealed that the narcotics were primarily transported from France in passenger cars and vans.

Authorities believe the group made multiple drug shipments into Finland, entering via Tornio and Turku, and delivered them to local distributors. According to Janne Kallio, lead investigator for Finnish Customs, the traffickers used conventional smuggling methods, concealing drugs in luggage or hidden compartments within vehicles, and likely drove through Sweden to obscure their routes.

Once in Finland, the shipments were distributed mainly in the Western Uusimaa region before spreading nationwide. Most recipients and dealers were Russian and Estonian nationals residing in Finland.

Investigators found that the operation involved smuggling over 350,000 Subutex tablets, more than 10 kilograms of cocaine, 52 kilograms of amphetamine, and 60 kilograms of marijuana into Finland.

During the investigation, authorities seized 82,586 Subutex tablets, 1.15 kilograms of amphetamine, 139 grams of cocaine, and 1.8 kilograms of hashish in Finland and Sweden, along with €169,180 in cash. The total estimated street value of the seized and distributed drugs is €13 million.

Fourteen suspects have been detained on charges of aggravated drug offenses. Tuomas Kuure, lead investigator at the Western Uusimaa Police Department, stated that the smuggling operation was orchestrated from abroad.

The case was referred to the prosecutor’s office for consideration of charges as of January