Police uncover extensive cannabis operation in Central Finland

Police have uncovered extensive cannabis cultivation in Central Finland and suspect five men of aggravated drug offences, Yle reports. The alleged offences took place in 2025 and 2026 in Äänekoski, Viitasaari and Saarijärvi.

Police arrested the suspects in the summer of 2026 and searched buildings they controlled, as well as an industrial hall. Officers seized cannabis plants and potent cannabis material weighing more than 20 kilograms in total.

Police said their investigation indicates that at least two cannabis crops had been harvested before the searches. The cultivation and sale of cannabis are suspected to have continued for about a year.

Police have completed their preliminary investigation, and the case has been referred for consideration of charges. A police investigator said the scale of the operation was unusual, as cannabis-growing cases reported to authorities typically involve smaller operations, such as a single home or grow tent.