Finnish Customs Enforcement 2017

Finnish Customs Enforcement 2017 Finnish Customs Enforcement 2017 1 CONTENTS Editorial 3 Crime overview 4 Improved control would increase the amount of taxes collected 5 Customs control of intellectual and industrial property rights 6 Narcotics offences and precursors 8 Fentanyl and its derivatives 13 Methamphetamine 14 Pharmaceuticals classified as narcotics 15 Pharmaceuticals 16 Doping substances 17 Customs control 19 Corporate Audit 23 Economic crime 25 Nature conservation offences and violations as well as CITES cases 28 Firearms offences and dangerous objects 30 Product safety control 32 Urho, the Customs sniffer dog of the year, was also recognised as the service dog of the year at the Dog Fair Finland 33 Finland’s largest hashish seizure 34 Executive Editor Editor in Chief Subeditor Sami Rakshit Esko Hirvonen Angelika Piirainen Contributing Writers From Marjut Laatikainen Jarno Rundgren Markku Gustafsson Jussi Lehtonen Kim Ruotsalainen Vesa Havumäki Juha Mäkitalo Seppo Ruottinen Timo Helin Jarkko Neffling Jonna Ryyttäri Lasse Jauhola Pekka Nevala Rauno Saloniemi Jari Kaario Reino Pakkanen Riikka Sulander-Seppänen Tiia Kallio Janne Pitkänen Mika Tahvanainen Tiina Kaunisto Kimmo Pylkkänen Ahti Typpö Saulo Kivelä Petri Rakshit Sami Virtanen Tero Koskenlaakso Tarja Rodionoff Risto Photographs Statistics Saila Soini Yhteistyökumppanit Layout Tuuli Jalo Risto Silvola Translation AAC Global Arvo Vainionpää Publisher Enforcement Department of Finnish Customs ISSN 2242-3265 2 Finnish Customs Enforcement 2017 Editorial The popular and praised TV series Suomen Tulli will continue – or will it? Suomen Tulli, the TV series follow- most importantly, they ing the daily work of Finnish Cus- will not decrease as toms, first aired on Finnish channels before. At the same in 2011. A possible return of the se- time, the logistics ries after a short break is now back of foreign trade has on the table. evolved and modern Previously in Suomen Tulli: The technologies have year 2017, was a great success for opened up new op- Finnish Customs in financial terms. portunities and, then Even though the transfer of tax as- again, brought about signments of Customs to the Tax new competence re- Administration continued and the quirements for Cus- number of personnel resources de- toms professionals. Finnish Customs but electronically close. Working creased like in the previous ten years, is facing a scouting process, and it is methods will change into new ways record-high figures were reached in already partly in progress, in order of working, and internal Customs most enforcement sectors. to understand what kinds of people organisations will be less significant Our employees have been re- and skills we need during the next considering the work of Fin nish silient and shown a high level of decade. Customs. For most of us, all this professionalism at a time when it We are already recruiting people sounds and feels very strange, but has been important to indicate that, in completely new positions, the de- the future belongs to those who are regardless of changes and appro- tails of which are even hazy to the brave and courageous. priations, Finnish Customs remains recruiting staff: What will the new What will not change is that a highly important and competent employees do and what kinds of Finnish Customs remains the tough- authority – an authority which peo- skills should they possess in order est professional in foreign trade ple can trust and which is able to to succeed? and traffic which can carry out its bear its responsibilities. The year In the next episode: We need to activities under all conditions, so 2017 was characterised by a huge question our ways of working boldly that there are no unnecessary inter- increase in online sales volumes and openly, and also look for new ruptions in legal trading, while it is and the resulting needs for more ways. In the modern world, no-one able to uncover any illegal opera- control, as well as trading on illegal can say for certain that “if you do tions and impose proper sanctions goods in data networks. Last year, that, this will happen.” Causality can on them. debate (also public) on the ministry no longer be perceived as before The question is whether Cus- to which Finnish Customs should in this complex world – instead, we toms has the courage to change and belong quietened down, and focus need to make choices, even if we shed its skin in a changing world. was shifted from organisational cannot be sure of the results, let changes to closer and better co- alone their functionality. As a result, I wish everyone a good and energetic operation between authorities. we must have the courage to recog- year working for our society! In tonight’s episode: The year nise and admit any wrong steps, and 2018 started brighter than many the courage to choose a better way Sami Rakshit previous years, as Parliament no- that leads us forward. Director of Enforcement ticed that Customs suffers from a The job of an individual Customs shortage of resources and adjusted employee will become an independ- PS. The header had nothing to do with its appropriations so that we can ent expert position, in which sup- the editorial itself; it was merely a teas- level out from our previous freefall. port from supervisors and other er to attract readers to read the whole Our resources will not increase but, experts can be physically distant text. Finnish Customs Enforcement 2017 3 Crime overview 2017 In Finland, structural factors and said that connections between gangs Customs so that the number of ba- operators affecting crime in Finland and an increase in independent op- sic narcotics offences was the high- and, in particular, crime prevention erators have increased crime in Fin- est in five years at the end of 2017. by Customs have mainly remained land even further. A similar peak can also be seen in unchanged. Some areas have deve- For several years, the internet the number of doping offences and loped – however, in the wrong way has played a key role in criminal ac- tax frauds. With regard to narco- considering law enforcement. tivities, and data networks did not tics, it can also be said that cocaine Structural factors, such as Fin- lose their footing in 2017. In this has become a standard substance in land’s geographic position between sense as well, the situation is Finland seizures. Sweden and Russia, are reflected in is universal. The role of data net- The increase in the number of cross-boundary crime: the north- works is particularly emphasised in offences, in general, is reflected in ern land route and border-cross- narcotics and medicine offences and the situation involving crime: nearly ing points in southeast Finland are illicit weapons, for example, are of- all criminal cases investigated by key routes in smuggling to Finland. ten acquired through the internet. Customs have increased in recent In Finland, gang organisations with Ordering narcotics online is years in terms of quantity or the identifying signs and symbols are reflected in cases investigated by amount of seized substances. key operators in drug-related crime. These groups have established connections to Sweden and Russia. Customs offence investigations (number) – Illegal imports Gangs with identifying signs and in 2017 symbols, mainly international outlaw Source: Customs Laboratory motorcycle clubs, largely account 1 Alcohol for organised crime in Finland. In recent years, there have also been 743 Doping various foreign criminals whose 9 Herbal plants with narcotic effects number has increased especially 2 981 Narcotics after the immigration situation in 1 245 Narcotic medicines 2015. Organisations that import 389 Goods banned from the consumer market narcotics, in particular, employ fo- 1 195 Medicines reign criminals, but they are increa- 21 Designer drugs singly involved in criminal activities 12 Other crime-related samples related to the import of cigarettes 699 Negative results or doping substances. It can also be Crime overview 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Offences 10 724 9 879 9 656 9 581 9 409 Suspects of offences Foreigners total 4 411 4 225 4 010 3 216 2 902 Russians 3 003 2 964 2 492 1 838 1 598 All suspects 9 508 9 036 9 066 8 950 8 525 Impact of customs crime prevention (EUR million) Recovered proceeds of crime 24,90 17,50 10,70 19,30 28,00 Value of goods not seized 0,88 82,20 1,79 197,40 5,03 Evaded taxes 5,23 26,50 3,45 8,12 48,11 Total 31,01 126,20 15,94 224,82 81,14 4 Finnish Customs Enforcement 2017 Improved control would increase the amount of taxes collected Some 350,000 parcels that weigh find cost-efficient operating mo dels ment. The State budget and the Cus- more than two kilograms are sent and to plan and acquire customs toms budget include EUR 1,500,000 each year (according to 2015 statis- enforcement technology suited for for automation of the customs tics). Of these, around 230,000 par- the large volume of goods in online control of incoming parcels. cels go through customs clearance. trade. Erroneously declared consignments On 1 March 2017, the Enforce- Criminal activity in are referred to customs clearance ment Department of Finnish Cus- online trade through a customs inspection and toms established a project team to X-ray machine every day. This means develop customs enforcement by The growth of online trade brings that the customs clearance for er- Airport Customs and its operating with it criminal activity, such as the roneously declared consignments is models to suit the new logistical so- sales of narcotics and the delivery fairly efficient. The number of con- lutions, particularly by increasing the of illegal pharmaceuticals.

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