Finnish customs and police uncover large-scale cigarette smuggling operations

During 2026, Finland's customs authority and the Central Finland police exposed two extensive illegal cigarette import schemes centered in Pirkanmaa, Kanta-Häme and Uusimaa. A customs-led probe uncovered a storage facility in Hämeenkyrö that had received several containers from Latvia, leading to the seizure of millions of packs and the estimation of tax losses exceeding ten million euros. In a parallel police operation in Orivesi, more than fourteen million cigarettes were intercepted, along with cash and numerous arrests.

The customs case involves seven suspects, five of whom are Finnish, with six already detained and two still in custody. Police investigations have identified over twenty suspects, nine of whom have been jailed. Officials say the rapid succession of these crimes highlights the scale of Finland's illicit tobacco market and its growing sophistication.