Smuggling ring moved at least 40 million cigarettes into Finland; 11 million seized

At least 40 million cigarettes were smuggled into Finland this spring and summer, with roughly 11 million seized after Customs and Central Finland Police uncovered two large import rings operating across Pirkanmaa, Kanta‑Häme and Uusimaa, YLE reports.

One investigation centred on a Hämeenkyrö warehouse where six deliveries from Latvia, totaling about 26 million cigarettes, were distributed around the country. Officials estimate the schemes avoided as much as €16.5 million in tobacco taxes and sought roughly €2.5 million in criminal profit over a few months. "The criminal activity has been fairly organized and systematic," said lead investigator Tuomas Korhonen, a senior Customs inspector. The probe is being handled as multiple aggravated tax fraud offences. Seven suspects have been identified, five of them Finnish, and two remain in custody as the matter moves to the Western Finland prosecutor's office in October. Customs had already seized roughly five million cigarettes from the Hämeenkyrö site in May after deliveries arrived from Latvia in several batches, Tamperelainen reports.

In Orivesi, a separate series of consignments involved five large shipments hidden among legitimate cargo on pallets. Investigators believe about 14.6 million cigarettes were smuggled this way, avoiding more than €6 million in tax. Police seized around six million cigarettes and about €600,000 in cash during searches. The illicit tobacco was sold in regions including Etelä‑Pohjanmaa, Pirkanmaa, Kanta‑Häme and Uusimaa. The inquiries cover aggravated tax crimes, firearm and drug offences, and have reached into Lithuania. More than 20 suspects have been identified overall; nine were detained during the preliminary investigation and some remain in custody.

According to Tamperelainen, Finnish authorities warn the illegal cigarette trade has grown more professional, relying on lawful transport chains and company structures to reduce the risk of detection. Solving the cases is seen as requiring close national and international cooperation as well as detailed knowledge of logistics and distribution networks.