154 drugs offences spotted in 2-week drive

The police detected a total of 154 narcotics offences during a country-wide intensive drive in the last two weeks of October, said the National Police Board in a press release on Thursday.

The law enforcing agency also found 248 cases of unlawful use of narcotics and 14 cases of aggravated narcotics offences during the drive. In addition, 59 cases of drunk driving were detected and 68 wanted individuals were apprehended.

The release said in an offence 156 people were apprehended as suspects, of whom 33 were arrested and eight detained.

The number of house searches made during the campaign totalled 160.

“During the two-week monitoring period, the police successfully uncovered various drugs offences. More firearms were seized and more cash confiscated in searches performed during the campaign than in the last few years,” said Police Chief Superintendent Teemu Saukoniemi.

The campaign resulted in the confiscation of 2.8 kilos of amphetamine, 13.3 kilos of marihuana, 900 grams of hashish, 410 cannabis plants, 800 Ecstasy tablets, 130 grams of methamphetamine, and 11 grams of cocaine. Several hundred tablets of various narcotic agents, most of them Rivotril tablets, were seized.

No Fentanyl, which is still relatively uncommon in Finland, its derivatives or heroin was detected during the campaign.

“All in all, of the 454 suspects subjected to police measures, 12 were under 18 years of age. Thirty-five persons were apprehended for the first time for a drug offence,” said Saukoniemi.

A total of 22 firearms were seized during the drive. Moreover, the police confiscated more than EUR 48,000 in cash.

For the crimes uncovered during the operation, 95 requests for fines were issued and 90 cases were transferred to the public prosecutor. The police also issued 39 formal notices.