HELSINKI: Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation said it suspects that a criminal organization of nearly 40 individuals worked together to smuggle amphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine into Finland last year.
Investigators said an extensive smuggling operation was discovered last September when a parcel of some 20 kilograms of amphetamine was intercepted as it was being transported from the Netherlands to Finland’s Pirkanmaa region. Five suspects were arrested in that incident, according to police.
Police said the bust is the largest in the region’s history and one of the biggest in the country.
There are a total of 37 suspects, including 23 people from an organised criminal group in Finland and 14 individuals from a criminal outfit based in the Netherlands. Eight of the suspects also face possible money laundering charges, police said.
Finnish police officials said they made the busts in cooperation with Europol, and EU criminal justice agency Eurojust in particular.
