Two men arrested in Tampere on suspicion of human trafficking linked to long-running restaurant

A district court in Tampere has ordered two men to be detained on suspicion of human trafficking in a case connected to a restaurant business, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports.

The Pirkanmaa District Court remanded the two men—aged 37 and 41—in custody on Friday on probable cause. Prosecutors must file formal charges by the end of September.

The alleged offences span from August 15, 2018, to February 24, 2026. The number of potential victims remains unknown. Police have not commented further, though lead investigator Kirsi Silomäki noted the timeframe may still be adjusted as the investigation progresses.

According to Yle, the suspects operate a restaurant in Tampere, established on the same date the alleged crimes are said to have begun. Human trafficking in Finland often involves labour exploitation, particularly in the restaurant sector, as well as forced marriages and sexual exploitation.

Finnish law sets the penalty for human trafficking at a minimum of four months and a maximum of six years in prison.

Last autumn, police and occupational safety authorities conducted a surprise inspection at the suspects’ restaurant. The regional administrative agency’s report flagged discrepancies in shift records—two employees present during the inspection were not listed in the schedule—and inaccuracies in logged working hours for at least two staff members in July and August. Some workers had also not received legally required evening and night shift bonuses despite recorded late-hour work.

Authorities issued corrective instructions to the business following the inspection.