Investigation links criminal organisation to 40 illegal entries into Finland

Finland’s Border Guard has completed a preliminary investigation into a suspected international criminal organisation that arranged or attempted to arrange the illegal entry of more than 40 people into Finland, Yle reports.

The people were asylum seekers in Latvia and were brought to Finland either by air from Latvia or by sea via Estonia between December 2025 and April 2026. Some journeys were stopped in countries of departure or transit.

The organisation is suspected of arranging for nationals of third countries to travel from Belarus through Finland to other parts of the European Union. Some of those who reached Finland continued to other EU member states.

Initially, people were brought from Riga Airport to Finland on Air Baltic flights. From January, the suspected organisation changed its method, sending people by train from Latvia to Tallinn and then by passenger vessel to Helsinki.

Some people were detained at the ports of Tallinn or Helsinki. Some of those who entered Finland continued through Haparanda to Sweden and on to other European countries.

According to the investigation, both the people who were brought into Finland illegally and the suspected members of the criminal organisation are from East Africa.

One person was detained during the investigation. The case involving that person will now proceed to consideration of charges.