On Wednesday, the Helsinki District Court annulled the confiscation of the alcohol ordered by Finns from Internet off-licence Viinikauppa.com.
More than 100,000 litres of alcoholic beverages have been lying in the customs warehouse for several years.
Now the Customs intends to deliver the beverages to the buyers, the number of whom is at least 800, estimates Viinikauppa.com.
According to the Customs, the alcohol will be released as soon as the clients have paid the excise taxes due on the purchased products.
The beverages have been accumulating in the warehouse since the spring of 2004.
At that point the Customs begun to impound them on the basis of the Excise Tax Act.
Later on the impoundments were turned into confiscations, the last of which was conducted in the spring of 2008.
Most of the purchased products are wine and beer. According to Viinikauppa.com, at least part of the beverages may be undrinkable after having been stocked up for so many years.
The prosecutor wanted to continue the confiscation of the beverages until Wednesday, arguing that they were evidence in the criminal investigation.
The representatives of Viinikauppa.com and the carrier are being charged with professional dealing in alcoholic substances.
On Wednesday the main hearing in the case was completed and the prosecutor no longer demanded the confiscation of the purchased products be continued.
The District Court is to announce in February whether or not it is to issue a verdict during the winter or whether it will submit the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a precedent.
Both the prosecutor and the defence were in favour of asking for a precedent.
The Internet off-licence Viinikauppa.com sells alcohol from its warehouse in Germany.
In order that this kind of operation is legal, the buyers have to arrange the transportation of the purchased products by themselves.
