Police suspect five young men of luring drug buyers into robberies

Police in Espoo suspect five young men of aggravated robbery after people who arranged meetings to buy illegal medicines or drugs were threatened with bladed weapons and robbed, Yle reports. The suspects, aged 15 to 22, have been detained.

The meetings were arranged online or through apps. Police say some victims were injured, and the suspects allegedly threatened them with weapons including a machete or jungle knife. The crimes were carried out by different combinations of suspects.

Police say some robberies linked to drug or e-cigarette transactions may go unreported because victims fear further violence or are reluctant to contact authorities after attempting to buy illegal substances.

In some cases, police say, there may not have been anything for sale. Detective Inspector Hannu Väänänen said the apparent seller’s sole aim may have been to rob the buyer of money brought for the transaction or other belongings.