The serious drug offenses where the drugs come from Sweden are increasing. At the same time, the operations are often controlled from here. The situation is described as alarming by Marko Forss, criminal inspector at the Helsinki police's street gang unit.
There are signs that individuals connected to street gangs are mediating the drugs further, he says at a press conference.
A case being taken up in the Eastern Uusimaa District Court on Thursday concerns individuals who have traveled between Sweden and Finland, writes Hufvudstadsbladet. The suspicions involve serious drug offenses, aggravated robberies, and firearms offenses.
The gangs in Finland are often loosely assembled groups of young men with roots in a city district or area.
The violence has become more brutal and it is becoming increasingly common for minors to be exploited by older criminals, according to Marko Forss.
Towards the end of last year, several serious violent crimes with firearms occurred, he says.
