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Finland Unnerved by Trial of Police Detective on Drug Charges Finland Unnerved by Trial of Police Detective on Drug Charges
(about 2 hours later)
Members of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation were working to crack a drug smuggling ring, when they intercepted phone calls and text messages between a suspected supplier and buyer emanating from Pasila, a district of Helsinki.Members of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation were working to crack a drug smuggling ring, when they intercepted phone calls and text messages between a suspected supplier and buyer emanating from Pasila, a district of Helsinki.
One party to the communications, they suspected, was a notorious drug smuggler. The other they could not place. After months of more surveillance, prosecutors say, the officers were startled to discover that the mystery man appeared to be the head of the Helsinki police’s antidrug squad, a decorated officer, Jari Aarnio.One party to the communications, they suspected, was a notorious drug smuggler. The other they could not place. After months of more surveillance, prosecutors say, the officers were startled to discover that the mystery man appeared to be the head of the Helsinki police’s antidrug squad, a decorated officer, Jari Aarnio.
The discovery led to Mr. Aarnio’s arrest two years ago. Now, as details of the scandal pour out weekly from what Finland’s media have called “the trial of the century,” the case is testing this otherwise orderly Nordic country’s once-solid confidence in its laws and institutions. The discovery led to Mr. Aarnio’s arrest two years ago. Now, as details of the scandal pour out weekly from what Finland’s news media has called “the trial of the century,” the case is testing this otherwise orderly Nordic country’s once-solid confidence in its laws and institutions.
The deputy general prosecutor, Jorma Kalske, said in an interview that Mr. Aarnio, 58, a burly man once known as the Emperor among colleagues, used the lessons he gleaned in more than 30 years of fighting drug traffickers to become the leader of his own cartel. Mr. Kalske said Mr. Aarnio smuggled 10 million euros worth of hashish to Finland from the Netherlands.The deputy general prosecutor, Jorma Kalske, said in an interview that Mr. Aarnio, 58, a burly man once known as the Emperor among colleagues, used the lessons he gleaned in more than 30 years of fighting drug traffickers to become the leader of his own cartel. Mr. Kalske said Mr. Aarnio smuggled 10 million euros worth of hashish to Finland from the Netherlands.
The scandal is “serious and very embarrassing for us, because it concerns such a high-level police officer, and it has shaken our society,” Tomi Vuori, the acting National Police Commissioner, said.The scandal is “serious and very embarrassing for us, because it concerns such a high-level police officer, and it has shaken our society,” Tomi Vuori, the acting National Police Commissioner, said.
Not only was the case exceptional in Europe, Mr. Vuori said, but it was particularly unnerving for a country like Finland, which is famed for its relative lack of corruption.Not only was the case exceptional in Europe, Mr. Vuori said, but it was particularly unnerving for a country like Finland, which is famed for its relative lack of corruption.
Last year, Transparency International, the Berlin-based organization that surveys perceptions of corruption, ranked Finland as the world's third least corrupt country, behind New Zealand and Denmark. Last year, Transparency International, the Berlin-based organization that surveys perceptions of corruption, ranked Finland as the world’s third least corrupt country, behind New Zealand and Denmark.
In a nation that so prides itself on a culture of probity, the drug smuggling trial, which began in June, has been greeted with disbelief, spawning a media frenzy seldom seen at the modernist district court house in Helsinki.In a nation that so prides itself on a culture of probity, the drug smuggling trial, which began in June, has been greeted with disbelief, spawning a media frenzy seldom seen at the modernist district court house in Helsinki.
After being arrested in November 2013 after a police raid at his home, Mr. Aarnio has spent the last year and a half in the same prisons where he once put away criminals. After being arrested in November 2013 after a police raid at his home, Mr. Aarnio has spent the past year and a half in the same prisons where he once put away criminals.
Wearing a dark suit and rectangular glasses in court, Mr. Aarnio has steadfastly proclaimed that he is innocent and betrayed little emotion. He faces 13 years in prison on 30 charges, including drug-smuggling, forgery, abuse of public office, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.Wearing a dark suit and rectangular glasses in court, Mr. Aarnio has steadfastly proclaimed that he is innocent and betrayed little emotion. He faces 13 years in prison on 30 charges, including drug-smuggling, forgery, abuse of public office, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.
Mikko Majander, adjunct professor of political history at the University of Helsinki, said the Aarnio case was captivating Finns, who he said “did not trust politicians or journalists, but do trust the police.”Mikko Majander, adjunct professor of political history at the University of Helsinki, said the Aarnio case was captivating Finns, who he said “did not trust politicians or journalists, but do trust the police.”
“People are amazed that what seems like fiction is fact,” he said. “We are not a country that has gunfights on the street or where the drug underworld is a part of daily life. It is a bit unreal, like having a television drama unfold before your eyes.”“People are amazed that what seems like fiction is fact,” he said. “We are not a country that has gunfights on the street or where the drug underworld is a part of daily life. It is a bit unreal, like having a television drama unfold before your eyes.”
True to more usual Finnish form, however, the case has already spawned changes to improve oversight of law enforcement. The Finnish national police board now requires that every police department in the country have a legal unit with the task of ensuring that police officers themselves cannot breach the law.True to more usual Finnish form, however, the case has already spawned changes to improve oversight of law enforcement. The Finnish national police board now requires that every police department in the country have a legal unit with the task of ensuring that police officers themselves cannot breach the law.
Still, as the Aarnio case has demonstrated, “No system is watertight,” Mr. Vuori said.Still, as the Aarnio case has demonstrated, “No system is watertight,” Mr. Vuori said.
At the core of the case, prosecutors say, is the accusation that while he was the chief detective of Helsinki’s antidrug unit, Mr. Aarnio arranged for six giant drums of hashish to be imported from the Netherlands to Finland from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Aarnio claims he was working undercover.At the core of the case, prosecutors say, is the accusation that while he was the chief detective of Helsinki’s antidrug unit, Mr. Aarnio arranged for six giant drums of hashish to be imported from the Netherlands to Finland from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Aarnio claims he was working undercover.
Law enforcement officials say they found a cellphone, hidden in a shoe in his garage, that had been used for many of the conversations they had monitored, along with unsent handwritten notes advising the smuggler on how to deflect criminal charges.Law enforcement officials say they found a cellphone, hidden in a shoe in his garage, that had been used for many of the conversations they had monitored, along with unsent handwritten notes advising the smuggler on how to deflect criminal charges.
The notes, prosecutors say, were intended for Keijo Vilhunen, whom the authorities say was a leading figure of the United Brotherhood, the country’s most dangerous criminal organization, and, they suspect, the other party to many of the conversations they had monitored.The notes, prosecutors say, were intended for Keijo Vilhunen, whom the authorities say was a leading figure of the United Brotherhood, the country’s most dangerous criminal organization, and, they suspect, the other party to many of the conversations they had monitored.
Mr. Vilhunen, who has been charged with drug smuggling, witness intimidation and forgery of evidence, has denied the charges and that he is the leader of the gang.Mr. Vilhunen, who has been charged with drug smuggling, witness intimidation and forgery of evidence, has denied the charges and that he is the leader of the gang.
Investigators say Mr. Aarnio used his position in law enforcement and his accumulated knowledge of policing to try and throw his colleagues off his tracks and to conceal evidence. Investigators say Mr. Aarnio used his position in law enforcement and his accumulated knowledge of policing to try to throw his colleagues off his tracks and to conceal evidence.
In December 2011, after the Dutch police seized a drum with 311 pounds of hashish, they sent it on to its manifest destination in Finland, in hopes of catching the smugglers. Informed of the attempted sting, Mr. Aarnio tipped off his subordinates in the ring not to accept the shipment, prosecutors say.In December 2011, after the Dutch police seized a drum with 311 pounds of hashish, they sent it on to its manifest destination in Finland, in hopes of catching the smugglers. Informed of the attempted sting, Mr. Aarnio tipped off his subordinates in the ring not to accept the shipment, prosecutors say.
One associate, Peter-Mikael Fagerholm, called the Fisherman, ignored his warning, and was arrested and sentenced to nine years in jail on drug smuggling charges.One associate, Peter-Mikael Fagerholm, called the Fisherman, ignored his warning, and was arrested and sentenced to nine years in jail on drug smuggling charges.
After Mr. Fagerholm decided to testify against Mr. Aarnio in hopes of a lighter sentence, prosecutors say, Mr. Aarnio sent two members of a drug gang to threaten Mr. Fagerholm’s lawyer, telling him that his client’s family would be targeted if Mr. Fagerholm did not recant his statements to the police.After Mr. Fagerholm decided to testify against Mr. Aarnio in hopes of a lighter sentence, prosecutors say, Mr. Aarnio sent two members of a drug gang to threaten Mr. Fagerholm’s lawyer, telling him that his client’s family would be targeted if Mr. Fagerholm did not recant his statements to the police.
Mr. Aarnio also tried to scare him by transferring a dangerous former gang member to a cell adjacent to Mr. Fagerholm, prosecutors say.Mr. Aarnio also tried to scare him by transferring a dangerous former gang member to a cell adjacent to Mr. Fagerholm, prosecutors say.
Investigators say Mr. Aarnio implicated himself further when, while in prison, he asked a police officer to tell his wife to put some “garden chips” under a bush at his home.Investigators say Mr. Aarnio implicated himself further when, while in prison, he asked a police officer to tell his wife to put some “garden chips” under a bush at his home.
When the police raided his house, they discovered nearly €65,000 hidden in the dirt. According to the indictment, he also had a long relationship with a prostitute called Saara, and stole €14,000 that she had given to him for safekeeping.When the police raided his house, they discovered nearly €65,000 hidden in the dirt. According to the indictment, he also had a long relationship with a prostitute called Saara, and stole €14,000 that she had given to him for safekeeping.
In total, Mr. Aarnio, who owned eight cars, including an Audi and BMW, was estimated to have accumulated €500,000 in cash.In total, Mr. Aarnio, who owned eight cars, including an Audi and BMW, was estimated to have accumulated €500,000 in cash.
Prosecutors say Mr. Aarnio expertly concealed his involvement in the crimes by structuring his cartel in a way that subordinates did not know or communicate with one another.Prosecutors say Mr. Aarnio expertly concealed his involvement in the crimes by structuring his cartel in a way that subordinates did not know or communicate with one another.
Mr. Aarnio has denied any wrongdoing, saying that fictitious drug deals were routinely made to entrap criminals. He told the court he changed SIM cards and phones often for security reasons.Mr. Aarnio has denied any wrongdoing, saying that fictitious drug deals were routinely made to entrap criminals. He told the court he changed SIM cards and phones often for security reasons.
“We are trained that in undercover operations everything possible must be done anonymously,” he told the court, calling the prosecutor’s accusations a “fiction.” His lawyer, Riitta Leppiniemi, has argued from the onset that the prosecution’s case is thin and built on circumstantial evidence.“We are trained that in undercover operations everything possible must be done anonymously,” he told the court, calling the prosecutor’s accusations a “fiction.” His lawyer, Riitta Leppiniemi, has argued from the onset that the prosecution’s case is thin and built on circumstantial evidence.
Already, however, Mr. Aarnio has been convicted of abuse of public office and accepting bribes and sentenced to nearly two years in prison.Already, however, Mr. Aarnio has been convicted of abuse of public office and accepting bribes and sentenced to nearly two years in prison.
Mr. Aarnio’s evolution from cop to criminal has its roots in Maunula, a working class suburb of Helsinki, where he grew up surrounded by drug addicts. During his police studies, he researched drug cartel structures. Mr. Aarnio’s evolution from cop to criminal has its roots in Maunula, a working-class suburb of Helsinki, where he grew up surrounded by drug addicts. During his police studies, he researched drug cartel structures.
In an interview on Finnish public television in 2000, Mr. Aarnio emphasized that effective drug organizations were constructed in such a way as to ensure that there was no evidence against the “real leader,” who can “hide behind a fall guy.”In an interview on Finnish public television in 2000, Mr. Aarnio emphasized that effective drug organizations were constructed in such a way as to ensure that there was no evidence against the “real leader,” who can “hide behind a fall guy.”
An effective drug cartel, he added, was like a chess game where the pawns protect the king.An effective drug cartel, he added, was like a chess game where the pawns protect the king.