Two men sentenced for serious drug offenses in North Savo District Court

A district court in North Savo has handed down prison sentences to two men in their twenties for serious drug offenses. The less severe sentence was given to a 24-year-old who had acquired, possessed, used, and distributed amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana during the winter of 2022-2023. This individual admitted to selling drugs online and accepted all charges. His circumstances had changed; he had stopped using drugs, was now regularly employed, and had entered a new relationship with a small child. The court considered these factors as grounds for a lighter sentence, resulting in a total sentence of one year and eight months in conditional imprisonment, along with 50 hours of community service.

In a more severe ruling, a 25-year-old man from Kuopio was found guilty of growing cannabis in the upper floor of his rural home. The grow room was modified with foil-lined walls and equipped with various fans, heat lamps, and a watering system. Police discovered 37 cannabis plants and 22 seedlings. The man claimed to have grown only ten plants for illicit purposes, asserting that the rest were for medical use. A total of 707 grams of marijuana was seized from him.

The prosecutor requested that the value of the property used for cannabis cultivation be forfeited to the state, but the court deemed this demand unreasonable, given the nature of the crime and the property involved. The man was also found in possession of 41.7 grams of cocaine and a suspected stolen rifle without a permit. He received a sentence of two years and one month for multiple drug offenses and firearm-related crimes. Additionally, €4,900 in cash seized from him was declared forfeit as criminal gains. The sentences are not yet final.