Customs and police uncover 40 million-cigarette smuggling operations

Finnish Customs and police have uncovered two large cigarette-smuggling operations involving at least 40 million cigarettes, with unpaid tobacco taxes of up to 16.5 million euros, Yle reports. Authorities have seized 11 million cigarettes.

The cigarettes were distributed at least in the Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and Uusimaa regions. Police say the suspected smuggling was organised in a way that resembled drug trafficking.

In an investigation launched by Customs, cigarettes were distributed around Finland from a temporary warehouse in Hämeenkyrö. Six shipments from Latvia brought about 26 million cigarettes there during the spring. The suspected group aimed to make about 2.5 million euros over a few months. Seven people are suspected in the case, and two remain in custody. The case is due to move to prosecutors for consideration of charges in October.

A separate investigation by the Central Finland Police Department began after a case emerged in Orivesi over the summer. From the spring, five large consignments were brought into Finland by truck, with 14.6 million cigarettes concealed among legitimate cargo. The scheme avoided more than six million euros in taxes.

Police seized about six million cigarettes in different regions and around 600,000 euros in cash suspected to be proceeds from the crimes. Searches also uncovered firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, drugs and snus. The cigarettes were sold in Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme, Uusimaa and South Ostrobothnia.

More than 20 people are suspected in the Orivesi case, and nine were detained during the preliminary investigation. Some remain in custody, police say, and investigators have not yet located everyone involved. The investigation also extended abroad, including to Lithuania.

Authorities say large shipments are increasingly being brought into Finland using legitimate transport chains, warehouses and company structures. A buyer may also face charges for handling goods brought into the country illegally.