Narcotics smuggling to Finland rises alarmingly

The number of aggravated narcotics offences increased significantly, and the number of aggravated regulation offences also remains high in Finland in 2024, said Finnish Customs in a press release on Wednesday.

In 2024, the quantities of seized narcotics were considerably higher than in 2023. Customs seized altogether 2 052 kilograms of narcotics in 2024.

The most significant increases were in seized quantities of marijuana, amphetamine and cocaine. Customs seized 1 321 kg of marijuana, 237 kg of amphetamine and 53 kg of cocaine.

The seized cocaine was very potent, and had it ended up for sale on the street it would have amounted to a quantity five times larger than the seized quantity. Customs also seized 353 kg of khat.

The situation around narcotics in Finland has become rapidly worse. The seizure quantities of conventional narcotics are considerable, and designer drugs and narcotic medicines are also being brought to Finland. Both involve the risk of involuntary overdoses, as users cannot be certain of what substances they are actually obtaining.

Online sales of narcotics and other illicit goods and items that require permits has made them available everywhere in Finland, which has worsened the narcotics situation considerably outside major population centres.

Last year, Customs identified 152 various narcotic substances, 28 of which were completely new designer drugs.

In total, Customs investigated 913 samples of designer drugs, 53 of which contained non-classified designer drugs. New designer drugs keep on emerging, as new variants are replacing the designer drugs that have already been classified as narcotics.

Customs also seized a record number of narcotic medicines, almost 650 000 items. In 2023, the total seized quantity comprised 430 000 items.

“We are detaining high quantities of medicinal substances not classified as narcotics. The use of these medicines as narcotics has increased, as their use results in considerably lower penalties than the use of medicines classified as narcotics,” said Hannu Sinkkonen, Director of Enforcement of Finnish Customs.

The controls of both non-classified designer drugs and medicinal substances not classified as narcotics involve challenges in terms of legislation.

Sinkkonen said that any loopholes in the law should be fixed, so that non-classified narcotics would not end up in consumption.

Customs initiated preliminary investigations into 562 aggravated narcotics offences, a record number of cases. In total, Customs uncovered 2 055 narcotics offences in 2024, which was 499 cases more than in 2023.

“Especially aggravated narcotics offences increased when compared to 2023, which is an indication of an even more organised and professional form of activity by criminals involved in narcotics. Crime is often of an international nature, and poses considerable challenges also to technical investigation, as investigative work is increasingly complex,” said Sinkkonen.

Doping offences remained at the same level as before, and the number of aggravated doping offences even dropped, even though the number of seizures tripled. Last year, Customs seized more than 62 000 doses of doping substances.

Still a considerable number of aggravated regulation offences – closure of the eastern border still shows in the number of petty tax frauds and regulation offences

Violations of the goods sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia are usually investigated as regulation offences. Finnish businesses engaging in foreign trade are for their part responsible for complying with sanctions.

Customs uncovered 5 527 criminal offences in 2024.

The impact of customs crime prevention on society remained at a significant level, amounting to more than 127 million euros last year.

“As a key crime prevention and security authority, we have succeeded in securing cross-border traffic and in combating customs offences. Also, our international and domestic cooperation in controls of cross-border traffic, crime prevention and other security-related tasks is important,” said Samy Gardemeister, Director of the Enforcement Department of Finnish Customs.

Seizures of snus and cigarettes also increased clearly in comparison with 2023.

Customs seized more than seven million cigarettes, the highest quantity in ten years. The quantities of seized snus have returned to a high level after dropping in 2023.

Last year, Customs seized about 4 800 kilograms of snus.