The number of customs offenses was at its lowest in five years in 2020. This was due in particular to the exceptional year of Corona and the significant intervention of customs in the online drug trade.
โThe decrease in the number of customs violations is mainly due to two things. First, customs managed to uncover and close a significant number of illegal outlets operating in the Tor network, such as Sipulimarket and Silkkitie. When these large illegal outlets were closed, the number of small drug shipments sent directly to the consumer-buyer decreased significantly. Secondly, international passenger traffic collapsed due to the restrictions of the Corona virus, so the number of customs violations detected in passenger traffic also decreased, Mr. Investigating Director Sami Rakshit In Finnish customs.
The social impact of the prevention of customs offenses remained significant
The social impact of customs crime prevention varies from year to year. In 2020, the impact was approximately EUR 57 million and in 2019 approximately EUR 70 million. The change was largely due to a reduction in the number of serious tax frauds. Most of the social impact, โฌ 26 million, consisted of proceeds from the crimes produced back. The most significant part of the impact of financial crime prevention consisted of losses from investigated crime cases, totaling โฌ 10 million in 2020.
Reduction in tax fraud
In 2020, customs uncovered 917 cases of tax fraud, 98 of which worsened. This is less than in 2019, when there were 1,362 tax frauds and 149 serious tax fraud cases. Minor fraud was reduced, especially due to a decrease in passenger traffic.
Recorded number of snus seized
In 2020, customs seized a total of 7,011 kg of snus, which is about 2,000 kg more than a year earlier, and the largest amount ever. Larger consignments of snus were smuggled into the Finnish market mainly across the land border in northern Sweden, but seizures were also made in shipping. In 2020, the findings of previous years were confirmed that the sale and smuggling of snus has become a professional activity in Finland.
Customs seized 4.5 million cigarettes in a criminal investigation in 2020. That was about 1.8 million more cigarettes than a year earlier, which is explained by two major seizures. Cigarettes are smuggled to Finland mainly in smaller quantities, especially from Russia.
The number of drug offenses doubled, with nicotine bags being seized more commonly
The volume of doping substances seized was significantly lower than in the previous year. In 2020, approximately 34,700 doping tablets or ampoules were seized, compared to 298,000 in 2019. However, the number of doping violations increased slightly compared to the previous year.
The number of medicines seized was almost four times higher than in the previous year, more than 370,000. The number of drug violations increased dramatically – 1471 violations were revealed, which was double the number compared to 2019. Of these, 1015 were drug offenses. The most common in the seizures was a nicotine product packed in small bags, which is classified as a medicine in Finland.
Increase in imports of marijuana, ecstasy, amphetamines and drugs
In 2020, customs seized 769 kilograms of drugs, which is almost a thousand kilograms less than a year earlier. Of the individual drugs, the amount of khat in Customs seizures decreased significantly – about 900 kilos less were seized than in the previous year.
The quantities seized clearly showed an increase in marijuana use and a decrease in hashish use. Customs seized 280 pounds of marijuana, the highest amount in 13 years. Only 0.7 kilos of hashish were seized, about 46 kilos less than a year earlier.
The amount of cocaine seized fell to 10 kilograms from a record 33 kilograms the previous year. Only 40 grams of heroin were seized. The amount of ecstasy seized was close to 79,500 tablets, which was about double the amount compared to 2019. A few larger seizures explain the increase.
In 2020, the amount of amphetamine seized increased to 42.4 kilograms despite Coronaโs restrictions, compared to the lowest in six years in 2019, or 24.2 kilograms. One big scene explains the growth.
Customs seized nearly 237,000 tablets or ampoules of the drug in 2020. In 2019, the number was about 131,000 tablets or ampoules. Of this, about a quarter contained the drug product buprenorphine. In line with the current trend, postal services played an important role in drug trafficking.
Source: Finnish Custom service
Source: The Nordic Page