Drug ads exploit Finnish sites’ search functions

Finnish news and public service websites are being used to promote illegal drug sales through manipulated Google search results, an investigation by Yle has found.

Thousands of pages linked to the Helsingin Sanomat tax calculator appeared in Google searches for drug-related terms, directing users to obscure drug marketplaces. The ads were generated by abusing the text-based search function within the tax tool, with queries like “[website address] instructions how to buy perfect cocaine” or “[website address] buy cocaine drugs Vantaa.”

The technique, known as internal search abuse promotion (ISAP), exploits internal search features on reputable sites to bypass Google’s restrictions on illegal content. Yle identified similar ads under other Finnish sites, including Museokortti, Satakunnan kaupungin, the Kirjastot.fi library portal, and several online stores.

Helsingin Sanomat acting editor-in-chief Jussi Pullinen said the paper was unaware of the vulnerability and moved to fix it after Yle’s inquiry on Friday. “This is embarrassing for us,” Pullinen said. The tax calculator’s search function has since been secured to prevent further abuse.

Google had not detected the manipulation because the ads were hidden beneath legitimate domains. The drug sites also advertised related services, such as legal assistance for drug charges.