Police report that calls to address disturbances tied to substance use have doubled compared to the first half of 2024. Photo: Timo Heikkala / Str / Lehtikuva
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Police in Helsinki have reported a sharp rise in drug-related offences involving alpha-PVP, a synthetic stimulant commonly known as “peukku”, with seizures growing by over 700 percent this year compared to 2024. The surge marks a new record for the city.
In the first six months of 2025, authorities seized peukku 354 times. The corresponding figure for the same period in 2024 was just 41. The 763 percent increase was confirmed by the Helsinki Police Department in a statement released on Friday.
While the number of seizures has risen for nearly all common illicit substances, alpha-PVP stands out in the statistics. Only amphetamine-related seizures have declined slightly.
Kimmo Sainio, Chief Inspector at Helsinki Police, said alpha-PVP is being trafficked primarily from the Baltic countries by foreign organised crime groups.
“Our investigations indicate that the substance is produced abroad and smuggled into Finland with the support of structured criminal networks,” Sainio said.
He added that criminal networks linked to Swedish and Albanian groups remain central to Finland’s drug trafficking routes, particularly for cocaine and amphetamines.
Drug-related disorder has become increasingly visible in public areas. Police report that calls to address disturbances tied to substance use have doubled compared to the first half of 2024. Most complaints stem from central locations such as Kurvi, Itäkeskus, and Kontula, where law enforcement has increased patrols.
Hanna Kiiskinen, Chief Superintendent, said officers are responding to growing safety concerns.
“Disruptive behaviour is increasingly concentrated in certain hotspots, and we have intensified monitoring in those areas,” she said.
According to police data, drug users with multiple dependencies are spending between €3,000 and €6,000 a month on substances. The demand is fuelling property crime, fraud, robbery, and drug dealing.
Sainio warned that the financial pressure on users contributes to broader criminality.
“Many fund their use through theft and fraud. Young women, in particular, are at risk of being exposed to sexual crimes while seeking out drugs,” he said.
Reported crime across Helsinki has risen 9 percent in the first half of the year. Theft offences have seen the sharpest increase, up 54 percent compared to the same period last year. Police say many of these incidents have become more aggressive, leading to a rise in threatening situations for shop staff and customers.
The latest figures come ahead of the release of the city’s full urban safety report, based on data collected at the turn of 2024–2025.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
