Helsinki police suspect five Hungarians of serious pimping offenses linked to sex trafficking

The Helsinki police suspect five individuals from Hungary of serious pimping offenses. According to the police, the organization facilitated the entry of Hungarian sex workers into Finland for several years. Illegal sex work occurred in major cities across Finland, with a focus on the capital region.

The preliminary investigation indicates that around thirty sex workers were connected to the organization in Finland between 2018 and 2024. Police reported that there were approximately 600 flights between Finland and Hungary associated with this operation.

The suspects, who belong to the same family circle, are currently in custody. The main suspect is a Hungarian woman in her thirties, detained in Finland, while the other suspects remain under investigation. Police estimate the organization’s turnover to be around 1.2 million euros, with 600,000 euros representing the profit from crime. The pimp retained fifty percent of the income.

Sex workers typically stayed in Finland for two to three weeks, with many changing accommodations and cities every three to four days, according to investigation leader Hannu Kortelainen. The pimping operation was primarily conducted from short-term rental housing. The sex workers were assigned Finnish prepaid phone numbers for contact purposes.

During the investigation, Helsinki police collaborated with Hungarian authorities, and the national human trafficking investigation team has moved the case to charge evaluation. This case is part of a larger phenomenon: earlier this year, the investigation team uncovered two major pimping organizations involving Hungarian suspects and victims. Overall, more than one hundred women have reportedly been trafficked to Finland and Sweden.

The police noted that the number of sex workers arriving from Hungary to Finland has significantly decreased, while their numbers have doubled in Denmark. Past criminal suspicions were recorded between 2016 and 2023, revealing that the same individuals operated pimping activities in Norway, Denmark, and Iceland as well.