Criminal gang smuggles marijuana to Finland from Thailand

Customs has investigated an organisation responsible for importing and distributing marijuana since the spring of 2024, said Finnish Customs in a press release on Friday.

The activity of the organisation has been methodical and covert, and several persons have been complicit in it.

Customs suspected that the organisation has used an express freight company in importing marijuana from Thailand to Finland.

The preliminary investigation regarding the case revealed that at least 18 consignments of narcotics were imported to Finland.

Customs seized four of the consignments and suspected that a total of 22 kilograms of marijuana were imported to Finland.

During the preliminary investigation, it also became apparent that several of the persons suspected of criminal offences had protected a suspect using instant messaging services.

Customs has conducted international cooperation in the preliminary investigation.

The main perpetrators are three foreign nationals born in the 1990s.

Moreover, 14 other persons have received narcotics in Finland. Some of the perpetrators remain detained.

The preliminary investigation has been concluded, and the case has been forwarded to the Southern Finland Prosecution District for consideration of charges.

“The narcotics ended up in distribution in the Uusimaa region. The profits from the sales of the narcotics were mainly sent abroad. Customs has seized about 20 000 euros accumulated through the narcotics sales. If the quantity of narcotics uncovered in the preliminary investigation had ended up on the street market, the criminals involved would have obtained up to 450 000 euros in criminal proceeds,” said lead investigator Sirpa Hara.

The main perpetrators organised the orders of narcotics in Thailand and their receipt in Finland. Other suspects saw to customs clearance, pick-ups and deliveries to the main perpetrators.

Customs was informed that the consignments contained coffee, tea and dried chili.

“A troubling aspect to this case is that a 14-year old person was recruited to receive one of the consignments of narcotics,” Hara said.

The preliminary investigation has covered 26 offences comprising several aggravated narcotics offences, aiding and abetting an aggravated narcotics offence, aggravated money laundering, standard money laundering, protection of an offender, narcotics offences and several cases of unlawful use of narcotics.

The money laundering offences involve concealment of assets obtained through criminal activity.

In 2024, the quantities of narcotics seized by Customs were considerably higher than in 2023. Especially the seized quantity of marijuana increased drastically and reached 1 321 kilos. In 2023, Customs seized 465 kilos of marijuana.