Finland jails drugs squad chief for smuggling hash

  30 December 2016    Read: 876
Finland jails drugs squad chief for smuggling hash
A Finnish court sentenced Thursday the former chief detective of the Helsinki police drug squad to ten years in prison for taking part in a drug smuggling ring.
The Helsinki District Court ruled that 59-year-old Jari Aarnio played a key role in helping a gang smuggle nearly 800 kilogrammes (1,750 pounds) of hashish from the Netherlands into Finland in 2011 and 2012, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported.

Aarnio was dismissed in 2013, ending a 30-year career combatting drugs trafficking, following reports he had interfered in the investigation into the barrels where the hash had been hidden and protected the identities of the smugglers.

The court found that Aarnio had "recklessly" abused his position and was guilty of serious misconduct, Yle said.

Prosecutors had initially sought the maximum 13-year prison term against Aarnio, who has been described as the Nordic nation`s "most famous police officer" by Finnish media.

Aarnio, who had denied the accusations against him, was taken into custody on Thursday.

/France24/

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