Drug death in Helsinki hotel leads to trafficking arrests

Heroin victim thought white powder was cocaine

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A death by heroin overdose in the Hotel Glo in the centre of Helsinki has put drug police on the trail of suspected drug traffickers.
      On Tuesday, police in Helsinki said that they had arrested a number of men and women of five different nationalities.
      “This is not a mere crime of drug use. It clearly involves more serious issues - specifically, the trafficking of drugs. Heroin has been sold as cocaine in Helsinki”, says Det. Chief Inspector Jari Pynnönen of the Helsinki drug squad.
      Police suspect that the group staying in the hotel could be involved in drug trafficking.
     
A 27-year-old Finnish man died at the Hotel Glo of a heroin overdose on Monday.
      Two other members of the group were hospitalised. One of them was soon released, but the other, a 25-year-old Estonian man, was close to death. On Tuesday his condition had improved.
      The entire group staying at the hotel were taken into police custody, as well as a number of other suspects. The group included Finns and Estonians, as well as citizens of three other countries. Police did not immediately reveal what the other nationalities were.
      All of those who were detained were under the age of 30.
     
Police say that those who took the heroin thought that they were taking cocaine.
      Police now have to ascertain if culpable homicide is involved. This could be the case if someone has given someone else a substance whose strength deviates from the norm, or gives something that differs from what it was supposed to be, says Det. Chief Insp. Kari Tolvanen of the Helsinki police violent crimes unit.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Drug sold as cocaine suspected in poisoning death in Helsinki hotel (8.12.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat