Customs seized marijuana found in backpacks. LEHTIKUVA
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In a significant enforcement achievement last year, Finnish Customs uncovered a total of 6,245 customs offences, marking a notable uptick in the fight against contraband and regulatory violations. Among these, the instances of suspected aggravated narcotics offences and regulation violations—specifically those concerning the EU’s sanctions against Russia—saw a substantial increase. Additionally, there was a marked rise in the seizure of drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, and ketamine, the latter often misused recreationally despite its medical purposes.
The year also brought to light 10 entirely new designer drugs, emphasizing the evolving challenge customs authorities face in monitoring and controlling the entry of illicit substances into Finland. The societal impact of these crimes was profound, with the prevention efforts of Finnish Customs estimated to have nearly an €88 million impact, recovering over €37 million in proceeds from criminal activities.
Hannu Sinkkonen, Director of Enforcement at Finnish Customs, provided insights into the trends observed in 2023. He highlighted the continued escalation in efforts to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia, a decrease in the illegal import of snus following deregulation efforts for nicotine pouches, and a significant increase in cigarette smuggling. Sinkkonen also noted the persistent high levels of narcotic medicine seizures, with ketamine and pregabalin smuggling showing notable increases.
The identification of 10 new narcotic substances further underscores the challenge, with over 130 different narcotic substances detected entering Finland, including 12 substances not classified in Finland. This achievement showcases the Customs Laboratory’s leading role in Europe for identifying designer drugs. The resurgence in online narcotics and medicine trade, despite successful shutdowns of some marketplaces by investigation units, was also mentioned.
The report also highlights the almost 60 cases of suspected aggravated circumvention of sanctions against Russia, underscoring the geopolitical implications of customs enforcement. Record seizures included 465 kilograms of marijuana and over 90,000 ecstasy tablets, pointing to a significant rise in these particular drug traffickings.
In addition to narcotics offences, Customs investigated 633 cases of tax fraud, with 107 classified as aggravated tax fraud. These cases often involved the illegal import of cigarettes, alcohol, snus, nicotine liquids, and VAT-related fraud.
This comprehensive report from Finnish Customs not only reflects the diverse nature of customs offences encountered in 2023 but also underscores the critical role of international cooperation in tackling these challenges effectively. The full statistics offer a detailed view of the trends in customs offences and narcotics seizures over the past five years, providing valuable insights into the evolving landscape of customs crime in Finland.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
