A man bought snus for SEK 640,000 – and went to Finland. The man is suspected of being part of a snuff smuggling gang and now risks prison. – It is about hundreds of thousands of kroner in profit, says prosecutor Jonas Fjellström. In Finland, it is forbidden to buy and sell snus, following a decision in the EU. It is, however, legal to buy snus in Sweden and bring it into the country. The snus ban has paved the way for smuggling. On Monday, the trial was held against a man who is suspected of being part of a league that smuggles snuff into Finland. Now he risks being sentenced to at least one year in prison in Haparanda district court. When the man was arrested, a large amount of cash was found in the car. In addition to that, mobile communication, trailer rental and a dirty receipt of SEK 640,000 are the basis for prosecutor Jonas Fjellström’s evidence against the 47-year-old man. – You can sell for about three times the purchase price. This is very often run in an organized form, says Jonas Fjellström. “There will be even more smuggling” The EU exception means that Sweden is the only member state where snus sales are allowed. In Finland, it is now legal to buy snuff and carry it across the border. But the country road between Haparanda and Torneå has become the major connection for importing snus into Finland. The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health wants to tighten its tobacco crackdown and by 2030 snus may be completely banned in Finland. But from the Customs Agency’s side, they are skeptical of a total ban. – Then everything will become smuggling. People will most likely not stop sniffing for it. Then there will be more smuggling to Finland and more black money, says Martin Petersson, expert at the customs office.
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