Finland

People

Finland is a transit and destination country for human trafficking, primarily involving labour exploitation, sexual exploitation and forced marriage. Although the human trafficking market remains relatively small, there has been a concerning increase in the number of trafficked individuals (including minors) in recent years. Perpetrators include Finnish natives as well as foreign criminal actors, particularly from Romania, Russia, Eastern Europe and various Asian countries. Often, the victims and perpetrators share the same ethnic or origin background, and the demand for exploitation is primarily domestic. Vulnerable minority groups, such as asylum-seekers and smuggled individuals, are the most targeted victims.

With regards to human smuggling, Finland is a destination and transit country for individuals from the Middle East, Central Asia and South East Asia. The main groups of people entering Finland who are targeted by human smugglers are workers and asylum-seekers, many of whom have fled military conflict, extreme poverty, economic challenges and natural disasters. Cases of human smuggling exposed by Finnish authorities are often orchestrated by transnational criminal groups with support from associates within the country. Individuals smuggled by air frequently use false identities, while those arriving by sea or land are concealed in vehicles and enter without proper identification. The flow of Ukrainian people fleeing from conflict has increased since the Russian invasion of that country. Finland has a lenient policy of granting lawful stay, which limits opportunities for criminal actors to profit, but cases of suspected exploitation of Ukrainians have still been reported, particularly in construction work.

There is no significant evidence of widespread extortion and protection racketeering in the country. The market is not systemic with only one recent case from December 2021, when serious crimes were committed by some members of a motorcycle gang, including extortion related to debt collection for ‘protection money’.

Trade

Arms trafficking in Finland has domestic and international dynamics. Although the sale of illegal arms is not a major source of income for criminal groups and the market is largely not organized, authorities regularly seize illegal weapons. Criminals acquire firearms through various means, including stealing legal arms, reactivating neutralized weapons and utilizing the dark web. Finland is a transit country for deactivated and reactivated assault rifles destined for Russia – a trade primarily orchestrated by organized crime and politically motivated groups. The reactivation of deactivated firearms has been partially curtailed through new regulations. The illicit arms trade in Finland is mostly driven by Finnish individuals and outlaw motorcycle gangs. While incidents of gun violence remain sporadic, efforts have been made to reduce the circulation of illegal firearms through amnesties and law enforcement seizures. There are concerns that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine could facilitate the illicit arms trade: smuggled military weapons seem to be entering Finland and other European countries.

Over the past decade, there has been a decline in the number of counterfeit goods seized by customs authorities (there has also been a decline in the overall value of such goods). The long-term trend indicates a clear decrease in the number of large-scale arrests related to counterfeit goods, mainly due to the cessation of transit traffic to the east. Presently, customs authorities focus on monitoring the growth of online trade in counterfeit products, particularly in mail and express-freight traffic. However, the resources allocated to controlling postal traffic have not been able to fully address the detection of incoming counterfeit products due to an increase in the volume of e-commerce packages as a whole.

Concerning the illicit trade of excise goods, the smuggling of tobacco has become more sophisticated, leading to record-high seizures in 2021. The smuggling of tobacco has largely evolved into a professional criminal activity in Finland. Large quantities of snuff were previously smuggled across the land border from northern Sweden, but recent seizures have also been made along shipping routes. Cigarettes are predominantly smuggled into Finland in small consignments, primarily from Russia. As for alcohol imports, especially wine, the current alcohol legislation is unclear due to a state monopoly on retail selling. In late 2022, Finland’s tax administration and customs departments announced their intention to increase duty collection on alcohol purchased online from abroad. Due to the high taxes on alcoholic beverages, there is a market for the illegal trade of such products, although it does not seem to be too widespread.

Environment

Flora crimes in Finland are not widespread, and there is no evidence indicating the involvement of organized crime. Additionally, there is no substantial or structured market in Finland for poaching or the trade and possession of endangered species. Still, the country does occasionally serve as a transit and destination point for the illegal wildlife trade. Due to its geographical location and long border with Russia, Finland is a potential entry point for smuggling networks involved in the illicit trade of wildlife products into Europe. Wildlife poaching primarily affects wolves, bears, deer and other large predators, as well as the eggs of various species.

Even though there is no solid evidence of active crime groups engaged in the illicit market for non-renewable resources, this market is believed to exist. Finland is a prominent gold producer in Europe and concerns have been raised over gold mining practices that may not meet environmental requirements. Reports indicate an increase in crimes associated with the non-renewable resource market, including instances of payment fraud within the gold industry.

Drugs

Drug trafficking in Finland has experienced an increase, primarily driven by international crime syndicates. However, experts suggest that the heroin trade will not be substantially affected as its appeal has diminished since the introduction of Subutex (buprenorphine), a synthetic opioid. In general, the quantities of heroin imported are relatively small compared to other drugs. While the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan has raised concerns about the global opiate market, the risk of rising demand for these drugs in Finland remains low. Demand for cocaine in Finland remains strong, however. Finland is a destination country for cocaine primarily sourced from the Netherlands – its trade within the country involves international motorcycle gangs collaborating with local gangs. Although cocaine use has been increasing (as have drug seizures), the volume of cocaine in the Finnish drug market remains relatively low compared to other Nordic countries. The criminal organizations responsible for the cocaine trade are primarily based in the Netherlands, collaborating with local criminal groups that include members from Finland, East African countries and the Middle East.

Finland is a destination country for cannabis; Morocco is the major source of cannabis resin imported into the country. In recent years, there has also been a possible increase in domestic cultivation, as cannabis is the most commonly used and traded illicit substance in the country. Unlike other illicit markets that are more directly controlled by criminal organizations, the cannabis market is mainly facilitated by smaller networks and more established organized criminal networks. Despite ongoing discussions about decriminalization and legalization, cannabis is still prohibited in Finland.

The trade of synthetic drugs, particularly amphetamines and ecstasy, is prevalent in Finland. It involves organized crime groups, including outlaw motorcycle gangs and members of various ethnic diasporas. There has been a noteworthy increase in amphetamine use, particularly in Helsinki; transactions often occur on the dark web. Synthetic drugs are imported from Western Europe via countries like Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden and Russia. Buprenorphine, the synthetic opioid that has largely replaced heroin in Finland, is believed to be smuggled through Lithuania from France. The availability of new psychoactive substances ordered online is also a growing trend. While the use of ecstasy has decreased, potentially due to the pandemic and related restrictions, other synthetic drugs like flakka, also known as alpha-PVP, are becoming increasingly prominent in certain areas.

Cyber Crimes

In Finland, cybercrime has been experiencing continuous growth, accompanied by changing trends and a shift towards more organized operations and the use of new technologies. The emergence of ‘crime-as-a-service’ (an illicit business model of providing cybercriminal tools and services to other criminals) has expanded the market and has made engaging in criminal activities more accessible. In recent years, hacking, network intrusions and cyber-espionage have been prominent, with nearly half of large Finnish companies encountering some cybersecurity issues. These crimes have also had an impact on national security: organized groups (sophisticated and small-scale alike) have engaged in cyber-attacks with potentially damaging and far-reaching societal implications. Cybercrimes primarily target private accounts, applications and services that people use in their daily lives.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has created tension between Finland and Russia, potentially leading to an increase in Russian-connected cybercrime activities that target public and private internet services alike. In 2022, the Finnish parliament's internal internet service experienced an attack, which was later claimed by a Russian hacker group.

Financial Crimes

In recent years, the number of registered cases related to financial crimes in Finland decreased – these were mostly accounting and tax-related offenses. However, there are still a high number of ongoing investigations. Damage caused by financial crimes is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros. The fight against financial crime has many new challenges, particularly when dealing with international crimes associated with e-commerce and internal trade. The internet has become a platform for selling highly taxed products while evading tax regulations at the same time. Cyber-enabled crime has also had an impact on financial crimes, leading to a notable increase in fraud cases reported by citizens. Cases of cyber fraud and identity theft were the most commonly reported. Incidents involving fake bank websites, search engine optimization, helpdesk scams and health information repository scams have gained media attention. The incidence of criminal cases related to financial crimes, especially major accounting crimes linked to tax evasion, has remained consistent in recent years.

Criminal Actors

There is no evidence to suggest the widespread presence of mafia-style groups in Finland, but outlaw motorcycle clubs are growing. Organized crime in Finland exhibits unique characteristics, including corporate connections through money laundering companies. In fact, some smaller criminal organizations use legal businesses like taxis, car wash stations, barbershops and garages for criminal activities and money laundering. The illicit profits they generate come from various activities such as drug trafficking, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, smuggling and extortion. Recent police operations have disrupted the criminal landscape, including dismantling a large gang, which has led to the emergence of new criminal groups.

Foreign criminal organizations with ethnic characteristics are active in Finland, engaging in activities such as human trafficking, drug smuggling and property crimes. These organizations have transnational connections and involve individuals from various countries including Albania, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Romania and African countries. They tend to operate primarily in large cities and their presence has been expanding through collaborations with local criminal networks, and through the recruitment of vulnerable smuggled individuals and diaspora members. Reports indicate the involvement of Dutch, Estonian, Spanish and Vietnamese criminal groups in Finland's illicit drug market and human trafficking activities. Intelligence agencies suspect that the Albanian mafia may have direct involvement in organized crime, specifically in drug trafficking. A growing concern for Finnish authorities is the rise of loosely organized street gangs composed of young men, particularly in the Helsinki metropolitan area. These gangs have been involved in a range of criminal activities including armed assaults on hotels and businesses and violent fights. Some have even collaborated with established criminal organizations for drug trafficking.

In Finland, the private sector has been implicated in various money laundering activities. Finland's geographical proximity to Russia (and the trade relations between the two countries) plays a key role in this issue. Tax audits of companies that trade with Eastern countries have uncovered frequent attempts to use tax havens, and a significant reliance on cash transactions. Dubious remittances associated with Eastern trade often indicate money laundering, with Finnish companies acting as intermediaries between foreign-based firms. Russian criminal operators use letterbox companies, making it challenging for Russian authorities to trace the flow of funds through foreign bank accounts and companies. Russian influence is also evident in real estate transactions in Finland. Two high-risk sectors for financial crime activities are hawalas (informal money transfer systems) and virtual currency service providers. There is no evidence of state control over criminal markets or the presence of state-embedded criminal actors in Finland, except for a few isolated cases of state actors assisting criminals.

Leadership and governance

Finland is a low-crime country known for its robust governance and law enforcement. While organized crime has sought to infiltrate the private sector through money laundering entities, there are no accusations of criminal influence within the government. However, experts warn of increased criminal activity and the rise of foreign-based gang activity; as well as youth involvement in organized crime groups, particularly in southern Finland and the Helsinki area. Opposition MPs have criticized the government for neglecting the fight against organized crime, which has led to the establishment of a working group to assess the current situation and propose policy recommendations. Finland has a strong legislative framework, transparent governance and an effective judicial system, contributing to a culture of rule-of-law and compliance. There are some concerns, however, especially regarding structural corruption using unofficial social networks, and the misuse of insider information. Finland lacks a specialized anti-corruption body: the Ministry of Justice coordinates anti-corruption efforts and has recently adopted the country's first anti-corruption strategy. Overall, Finland is considered one of the least corrupt countries globally, with a high level of public trust in the government.

Finland has a strong commitment to international cooperation in the fight against organized crime. The country has ratified various international instruments and transposed them into national law, ensuring compliance and cooperation. Finland engages in extradition agreements with countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong, mostly focusing on serious offenses like drug trafficking, human trafficking and property crimes. At an operational level, Finnish law enforcement agencies prioritize international cooperation to combat transnational organized crime. These cooperative efforts have yielded successful joint operations and investigations, resulting in numerous apprehensions and seizures related to drug trafficking and other criminal activities. Finnish legislation criminalizes various activities such as the trade in drugs and weapons, environmental crimes, human trafficking and smuggling. Offenses committed as part of an organized criminal group are subjected to more severe sentences, and a considerable economic benefit is considered an aggravating circumstance. However, establishing a clear link between individual offenses and group criminal activity remains a challenge. In Finland, courts can order the dissolution of organized criminal groups.

Criminal justice and security

Finland's judicial system does not have specialized prosecutor units or dedicated courts for organized crime cases, relying on regular courts to handle such matters. However, individual prosecutors in Helsinki specialize in investigating organized crime, particularly related to drug offenses and financial crimes. The judiciary, although adequately resourced, faces heavy workloads. Still, numerous sentences have been handed down to members and leaders of organized crime groups. Prison sentences in Finland tend to be relatively short, except for drug offenses, which carry longer penalties. Over the past two decades, punishments for violent offenses have substantially increased. Prison management in Finland aims to impede communication within organized criminal groups by separating their members across different facilities. However, organized crime activities have presented challenges within these prisons. Gangs reportedly control drug trading in several prisons and have established dominance in the prison hierarchy through violence.

The National Bureau of Investigation and the specialized unit within the Helsinki Metropolitan Police are the main law enforcement entities tasked with combatting organized crime. Efforts to address human trafficking crimes have improved with the establishment of a dedicated group in Helsinki and a national network that investigates this type of criminality. There are some concerns around the funding of the Finnish police, but the focus of this public debate mostly relates to general policing rather than organized crime. Criticisms have been raised regarding the length of investigations and the backlog of cases. Despite this, trust in the Finnish police remains high. Demonstrating their effectiveness, the police regularly make high-profile arrests. These have included targeting the leadership structures of well-known organized crime organizations.

Finland faces challenges to its territorial integrity due to its border with Russia and ongoing drug trafficking, particularly small-scale heroin trafficking. To monitor and patrol the border, the Finnish Border Guard employs modern equipment and techniques such as helicopters, airplanes, patrol ships, electronic surveillance and drones. However, the Border Guard is understaffed to fully safeguard the entire border and meet new EU-imposed responsibilities. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the potential consequences of the war, including hybrid influencing involving smuggled individuals, pose challenges to Finland's territorial integrity. Since Finland joined NATO, further concerns have emerged over the potential impact on border security. The move might provoke retaliation from Russia, including the deployment of nuclear warheads in the Baltic region.

Economic and financial environment

Finland has implemented legislation and international agreements to combat money laundering; its financial intelligence unit has been operating for almost three decades. The unit handles more than a thousand cases annually and receives tens of thousands of reports about suspicious transactions. While Finland is considered highly resilient to money laundering and terrorist financing, concerns have been raised regarding the involvement of Nordic banks, including Finnish banks, in international money laundering scandals. Investigations such as those related to the so-called ‘Panama Papers’ have questioned the banks' commitment to ensuring integrity and avoiding involvement in suspicious financial transactions. Although Finland has made progress in addressing deficiencies, the legislation could be further improved to address the money laundering risks associated with different types of legal entities. Additionally, the government has yet to implement sufficient policies to maintain up-to-date ownership information and establish adequate regulatory measures for bearer shares and nominee holdings.

Finland has a positive business regulatory environment and the country effectively upholds land and property rights. Still, organized crime groups sometimes exploit legitimate businesses for money laundering purposes, especially businesses in construction, car retail, transport, airport maintenance, property maintenance and the nightclub industry. The private sector actively collaborates with law enforcement, sharing intelligence and developing strategies to combat organized crime. Efforts have also been made to involve the private sector and trade unions in preventing and detecting human trafficking. Finland faces the challenge of a prevalent grey economy: common offenses including tax and accounting crimes, fraud, embezzlement and employment offenses related to human trafficking for labour exploitation.

Civil society and social protection

Finland has a robust support system for victims and witnesses, particularly in cases of human trafficking. Efforts have been made to address challenges in detecting different forms of trafficking and to remove barriers that prevent victims from seeking help. Legislative amendments have separated assistance provision from the criminal justice process, improving access to support for victims. The government, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), provides comprehensive care and funding for victims of human trafficking. Finland also has a well-established witness protection programme. In 2022, there was a significant increase in victims accessing the assistance system.

Finland has implemented various prevention strategies and policies to combat organized crime. There might be a lack of specific publications targeting various criminal markets, but Finland operates an exit programme to support individuals who wish to leave organized crime organizations. Despite these efforts, however, organized crime has continued to grow in scale and sophistication. In response to the increasing diversity and global nature of organized crime, Finland's new police strategy prioritizes cooperation between national, regional and international law enforcement agencies.

Finland is considered a free country with a healthy parliamentary system that upholds political rights and civil liberties. The country holds free and fair elections, has minimal corruption and respects the freedom of speech, religion and association. The judiciary operates independently and women and ethnic minority groups enjoy equal rights, although instances of harassment, hate speech and discrimination still occur. In combatting organized crime, civil society organizations (CSOs) in Finland have a limited role; the primary responsibility falls to the authorities. CSOs mostly focus on providing support to drug users and victims of human trafficking, but their funding is often unstable. The media plays a crucial role in reporting on organized crime, with broad access granted for investigative purposes. Finland ranks high when it comes to press freedom, but the rise of social media platforms poses challenges, especially when it comes to spreading false information and attempting to discredit journalists. The government has proposed legislation to protect the media from online hate speech, but the true impact of this policy is yet to be determined.