Finnish drivers flood Haparanda fuel stations as customs warns of 10-litre rule

Long queues have formed at fuel stations in Haparanda since Sweden cut fuel taxes, with Finnish drivers crossing the border to take advantage of some of Europe’s cheapest petrol prices, Yle reports.

The surge in traffic at the Tornio–Haparanda border has increased the workload for Finnish customs. While most drivers fill up their tanks, some have attempted to bring additional fuel into Finland in canisters.

Customs reminds drivers that fuel in a vehicle’s tank is duty-free, but only up to 10 litres of additional fuel per vehicle may be brought into Finland tax-free—provided it matches the fuel type used by the vehicle.

Jukka Riekki, head of northern customs surveillance, said authorities have not yet intercepted any large-scale fuel smuggling, though isolated cases of canisters being transported have been noted. With nearly 2.4 million border crossings recorded in Tornio last year, full enforcement is challenging.

Customs is currently reviewing regulations with tax authorities regarding the transport of large fuel quantities from Sweden to Finland. Riekki also noted that fuel is classified as a hazardous material, and large-scale transport must comply with consumer VAK regulations set by Traficom.