Pirkanmaa District Court sentences individuals for serious drug offenses in Finland

The Pirkanmaa District Court has issued lengthy sentences for multiple serious drug offenses. One case involved the possession of ten kilograms of amphetamines, one kilogram of cocaine, and 20,000 ecstasy pills. The financial benefits from these crimes were substantial, with one convicted individual ordered to forfeit a total of €460,000 to the state. Drugs were traded across various locations in Pirkanmaa and throughout Finland.

A crucial aspect of the police investigation was the use of Anom and Sky ECC messaging applications in the drug trade. Despite their intent to facilitate anonymous communication, police were able to access messages from both platforms. Anom messages were linked to an undercover operation conducted by the FBI and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), which misled criminals across different countries into using the FBI-developed Anom platform. This allowed users to send what was marketed as fully encrypted communications, targeting organized crime.

The operation has led to numerous criminal investigations and convictions in Finland and several other countries. The Sky ECC messages came to light through a joint operation by the Netherlands, France, and Belgium, which targeted a private service provider’s server to intercept communications.

In its ruling, the Pirkanmaa District Court stated that some Sky ECC messages were obtained via European investigation orders from France, while others were found during physical searches of devices. The court noted that the language used in these communications included typical euphemisms related to drug transactions.

Individuals convicted include Joni Erkki Ensio Orpanan (1988), sentenced to 8 years and 6 months, Roope Santeri Halisen (1990), sentenced to 7 years and 6 months, and Tero Tapani Hovatovin (1997), sentenced to 5 years and 6 months. The sentences are not yet final and can be appealed to a higher court.