The Finnish customs service has confiscated about 50 kilos of heroin at the Vaalimaa crossing-point on the Russian border. The haul is the largest heroin bust in Finnish history.
The drug was found on Wednesday of last week, hidden in the compressed air tank and dashboard of a truck travelling from Russia to Sweden. The contraband was revealed in an X-ray inspection at the border.
Officials do not believe that Finland was the final destination of the drugs. Based on the size of the load and the destination of the truck, the heroin is believed to have been intended for distribution in Sweden and beyond.
One person - the 47-year-old Turkish driver of the vehicle - was remanded in custody. Police say that he has initially admitted his guilt during interrogation. He could face up to ten years in prison.
The seizure tends to confirm suspicions that Russia is becoming an increasingly important route for smuggling heroin onto the European market.
The heroin itself is still being analysed for purity. Olli-Pekka Vanhainen of the Eastern Customs District says that if the purity is that of normal street heroin, it would be worth about EUR 10 million.
"However, if it is stronger, its value could be much higher", said Vanhainen.
