Drug police sick-leaves encumber investigations of serious drug crimes

More than half of Helsinki drug squad call in sick as prosecutors investigate tactics

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Nearly half of the criminal investigators of the Helsinki police drug crimes unit took sick-leave on Friday. Nearly all of those involved are experienced drug crime investigators, says Chief Inspector Jari Aarnio of the Helsinki drug police.
      Aarnio fears that the mass sick-out could significantly hamper the investigation of serious drugs cases.
     
Before the sudden bouts of illness, the drug police had been informed by State Prosecutor Ari-Pekka Koivisto that a decision would be coming soon on whether or not there is reason to suspect illegal activities among the drug police.
      Koivisto has been assessing a report drawn up by the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior on certain methods used by the Helsinki drug police. Last spring suspicions were aroused that the police had established excessively cosy relations with certain criminal elements.
      Suspicions are that drug police have agreed to overlook crimes committed by those in the criminal underground giving tipoffs in drugs cases. The issue was first raised about three weeks ago by the television network Nelonen, or Channel Four.
      The prosecutor must decide if there is reason to suspect that some police officers may have committed a crime.
      Koivisto said that he would make his decision on Monday.
     
According to information received by Helsingin Sanomat, a criminal investigation is planned concerning the activities of about half a dozen police officers.
      Aarnio would not confirm the information, but he said that he expects that there will be an investigation. "I can draw that conclusion based on rather extensive police experience."
      In his view, it would be in the interest of the drug police if a preliminary investigation were launched. He also said that in his view, the accusations are without foundation.
     
"It is interesting that after very successfully investigating cases of core figures in organised crime for a year and a half now, for some reason someone wants us out of the game. Naturally it concerns us very much who this might be."
      Aarnio says that the accusations have been a burden on the drug police.
      On Friday about 20 investigators announced that they were going on sick-leave. The Helsinki drug police have about 35 investigators.
      Kimmo Hakonen, director of police activities at the Ministry of the Interior, did not want to comment on the matter.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Police bust massive drug ring in Helsinki region (29.9.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat