The police conducted an intensive monitoring campaign targeting illegal substances between 14 and 27 October. All police departments in Finland participated in the campaign.
During the two weeks, police departments reported a total of 175 narcotics offences, 311 offences for unlawful use of narcotics and seven aggravated narcotics offences.
In addition to drug offences, the police also filed 101 offences for driving while intoxicated, six violent offences and ten property offences in connection with the monitoring campaign. A total of 42 wanted persons were also apprehended in the crackdown.
A total of 150 persons suspected of crimes were apprehended, 19 of whom were arrested and three taken into custody. The police also searched 125 houses and 85 areas during the campaign.
Compared to last year, the numbers of narcotics offences (175 in 2019 vs 154 in 2018) and offences for unlawful use of narcotics (311 in 2019 vs 248 in 2018) were slightly higher, while the number of aggravated narcotics offences was lower (7 in 2019 vs 14 in 2018).
Narcotics and psychoactive drugs among seized substances
As a result of the crackdown, the police seized 1.7 kilograms of amphetamine, 5.4 kilograms of marijuana, 770 grams of hashish, 200 cannabis plants, 295 ecstasy tablets, 141 grams of methamphetamine and 14 grams of cocaine.
Over 3000 tablets of different psychoactive drugs, mostly Rivotril, Subutex and Xanor, were also seized.
The police did not come across fentanyl, which is still fairly rarely found in Finland, or its derivates in the crackdown, and a total of one gram of heroin, another rarity in Finland, was seized. In addition, 73 units of LSD and 85 Psilocybe mushrooms were seized in the crackdown.
Of psychoactive substances banned from the consumer market, the police seized 15 litres of GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) during the monitoring period.
Compared to 2018, the police seized roughly a kilogram more of amphetamine in 2019. Last year the police seized over 13 kilograms of marijuana, but the large difference between the amounts seized this year and the last can be attributed to a single seizure of nearly 10 kilograms in 2018.
“When comparing the numbers, you have to keep in mind the slight variations in available resources different police units have for monitoring campaigns in different years,” Chief Superintendent Teemu Saukoniemi from the National Police Board says.
14 firearms and EUR 30,000 also among seized property
A total of 14 firearms were seized as a result of firearms offences uncovered in connection with the intensive monitoring campaign, and the police also confiscated more than EUR 30,000 in cash.
“Based on these results, I think it’s safe to say that addressing narcotics offences and using coercive force also help us solve more serious drug offences and related crimes,” Saukoniemi says.
Under 18-year-olds among the suspects
All in all, of the 356 suspects subjected to police measures, 15 were under 18 years of age. Of the suspects, 20 were caught for narcotics offences for the first time.
A total of 90 requests for fines were issued and 112 cases were transferred to the public prosecutor for the crimes uncovered and investigated during the campaign. The police also issued 13 formal notices.
