15 to face trial for producing, selling cannabis in Helsinki

The Helsinki Police uncovered a gang involved in cultivating and selling cannabis in the metropolitan area in the last seven years, said police in a press release on Friday.

The group is suspected of having cultivated nearly 100 kilograms of marijuana between 2019 and 2026 and the estimated street value of the drugs is about 2 million euros.

Police suspected 15 people of aggravated drug offences, money laundering and tax offences and conducting pre-trial investigation into the incidents.

The pre-trial investigation will be completed in the near future and the case will be forwarded to the prosecutor for consideration of charges.

“According to the pre-trial investigation, the operation was exceptionally large in scale and continued over a long period. The police identified the suspects through criminal intelligence gathering and the use of covert coercive measures. These methods are typically used in investigations into organised and professional drug crime," said Detective Chief Inspector Janne Ylinenpää, who is leading the investigation.

According to the pre-trial investigation, one of the suspects had rented a large detached house for his use. Most of the cultivation took place in the house.

Over the years, the operation produced nearly 100 kilograms of marijuana, that is, cannabis flower.

Members of the group mainly sold the marijuana in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Other members of the group also cultivated cannabis in, among other places, a rented garage and their own homes.

“The cultivation operation was exceptionally professional. The suspects systematically developed their cultivation equipment, systems and growing methods over a long period. In this way, they sought to maximise the quantity of drugs produced. One of the suspects stated that he alone had spent tens of thousands of euros on equipment and plant nutrients," Ylinenpää said.

During the pre-trial investigation, the police seized nearly 14 kilograms of marijuana, as well as tens of thousands of euros in cash.

A large amount of cultivation equipment was seized from properties used by the suspects.

The equipment included grow tents, lighting systems, and irrigation and ventilation equipment.

The police also seized plant fertilisers used in the cultivation operation.

In addition to the aggravated drug offences, the pre-trial investigation uncovered several aggravated money laundering offences.

According to the pre-trial investigation, money obtained from the sale of drugs was laundered through arrangements involving several individuals and companies.

The companies used in these arrangements were registered both in Finland and abroad.

"The suspects also used various nominee arrangements. These were intended to conceal the identities of those involved in the criminal activity," Ylinenpää added.

The pre-trial investigation also uncovered aggravated tax fraud offences. These were connected to the activities of a company used for money laundering and the person responsible for that company.

There are a total of 15 suspects in the criminal case as a whole. Of them, 11 were remanded in custody during the pre-trial investigation. Three suspects remain in custody.