According to sources, in February 2023, a man bought snus from six different stores in Haparanda for a total of 640,747 kronor. He then allegedly brought the snus into Finland by car and trailer without declaring the goods to customs. The man was arrested when he returned to Haparanda, at which time the trailer was empty and he had over 800,000 kronor in cash with him.
He was sentenced to prison for aggravated smuggling and aggravated money laundering, as well as deportation. Receipts linked to one of the snus stores were found in connection with the arrest. After that, the police conducted a raid on the store, and three men became suspected of involvement in the smuggling.
They were suspected of having supplied the man with snus and a car to enable the transport. Part of the evidence includes chats where they talk about 'the Spaniards' who are supposed to come, a car that can be lent out, and how much weight it can handle. "Snus weighs nothing," writes one of the men.
Two of the men, a store manager and a part-owner who worked in the store, were sentenced to conditional sentences for aiding smuggling by the Haparanda District Court. One was acquitted because it was not proven that he had any knowledge or role regarding the snus sales. "The judgment shows that one cannot knowingly participate in smuggling on a large scale.
One must be vigilant if someone buys snus for 100,000 – 200,000 kronor," says Jonas Fjellström. The prosecutor believes that the judgment may have significance for how snus smuggling over to Finland will appear in the future. " The identity and nationality of the main smuggler who was sentenced has not been disclosed.
It is unknown what happened to the snus after it was brought into Finland.