Police warn nitazenes and fentanyl could reach Finland

Finnish police fear highly potent synthetic opioids could enter the country’s drug market, with serious consequences, Yle reported on Tuesday. The first detections of counterfeit medicines containing nitazenes have already been made, says Kimmo Sainio, a criminal inspector with the Helsinki Police Department.

When drugs are ordered from abroad, buyers cannot know what they will receive, Sainio says. These substances can get customers addicted or kill them. Police have also made isolated discoveries of small quantities of heroin.

Police say the number of people using the designer drug alpha-PVP has stabilised since last year, calming street conditions. But the drug is still seized daily. Customs recently reported a seizure of 60 kilograms.

The comments came as Helsinki Police announced an unusually large drug import investigation. More than 500 kilograms of drugs, mainly amphetamine and cocaine, were found, and about 60 people are suspected in the case. The consignments were very large, but neither the amphetamine nor cocaine haul was the biggest or most valuable ever seized in Finland, says investigation leader Markku Juurikkamäki. The drugs were distributed mainly in the Uusimaa region.

Police do not support consumption rooms, Sainio says, arguing that society should not support the use of illegal drugs. Current legislation does not allow such facilities.

Police focus on preventing drug imports and disrupting networks, rather than seeking to punish users, Sainio says. Support for users should come from healthcare services, and easier access to substitution treatment could help, he says.