Criminal investigation of activities of Vantaa Drug Police and NBI

Suspected wrongdoings in undercover work and false purchases

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A criminal investigation has been launched into the activities of officers of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Vantaa drug police. About 10 officers are under suspicion of malfeasance and violating official secrecy in the late summer and early autumn of 2007.
     The head of the investigation, Espoo district prosecutor Marianna Semi says that the suspicions are linked with police undercover work and false purchases of drugs.
     "The question is, whether or not the methods used were right", she says.
     
In undercover work, police take on false identities, sometimes infiltrating criminal groups. However, undercover police officers are not allowed to commit crimes themselves.
     Police can also make false purchases, or offer to purchase illegal drugs in order to flush out actual criminals.
     Prosecutor Semi says that suspicions were raised in connection with an internal investigation. Information was passed on to the office of the Prosecutor General.
     
The late-edition tabloid Iltalehti reported in its online edition on Monday that police are suspected of having used an informant for making false purchases or infiltration, and later turned a blind eye toward crimes committed by the informant.
     Asked if this was the case, Marianna Semi told Helsingin Sanomat that such matters are not involved at least at this stage.
     
The majority of the officers under suspicion are from the NBI.
     "The number of suspects might decline very quickly, once we make progress in our investigation", Semi says.
     Interrogations of officers under suspicion will begin next weekend. Semi says that the preliminary investigation will be completed by late March at the earliest.
     
The new investigation is not directly linked with the one concerning the activities of the Helsinki drug police.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Two new suspects in investigation into activities of drug police (24.1.2008)
  TV report: Helsinki drug police warned criminals of impending wiretap (11.2.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat