Helsinki police seize illegal bear meat and body parts from local business

The Helsinki police have reported the seizure of dozens of boxes of bear meat from a local business in June. The meat was found in cold storage, alongside bear bones, ears, and frozen paws. According to the police, approximately 600 kilos of illegal bear parts were discovered, with some meat and bones being several years past their expiry date or lacking clear provenance.

The investigation was prompted by information received through international data exchange. Several individuals have been interrogated as suspects in this case. The police revealed that bear meat and potentially other bear body parts have been sold for several years. Further inquiries have revealed that at least some of the bear parts were imported into Finland from another EU country.

“Bears are among the species protected by the EU’s Habitats Directive. The bear is one of the most strictly regulated species under the EU’s CITES regulation. Therefore, the sale of bear parts always requires an exceptional permit,” stated Harri Saaristola, the investigating officer.

The Finnish Environment Institute also emphasized that selling bear meat necessitates an EU certificate, reiterating that bears are subject to strict regulations under the EU’s CITES framework.