Consumers unwitting mules for smugglers?
Ordinary consumers may unwittingly become mules for narcotics smugglers. One customer who ordered a table from an online store found that he also received a side order of powerful pain medication.
When Sami Koivisto ordered a table from a reputable online provider, he received a surprise addition to his order—pain medication.
“I ordered a writing table from Stockmann, which was delivered to my home. I had a rather big surprise: I did get the table, but there was also a package of powerful pain medication, which I understand it, is also used in Finland as a narcotic,” Koivisto explained.
The drug stash was concealed in an empty space beneath the table, in a location where hundreds of similar packages would have fit. The table’s cardboard packaging had also been ripped open at that point. A possible smuggler might have taken other contraband out of the box, unintentionally leaving one behind.
The pills that showed up in Koivisto’s order were a prescription drug known as Acetramu, which is not even sold in Finnish pharmacies. Koivisto immediately contact Stockman, where personnel were as surprised as he was.
“Of course from the customer’s viewpoint this extremely unfortunate and naturally we apologized for this. It must have been a very unpleasant surprise. We are now assisting the police in resolving the matter,” said Stockmann Retail Director Tuija Väntinen.
Retailer not responsible
Helsinki police are investigating the case as a drug offence. Stockmann will not have to answer any charges.
“Possession of illegal drugs is a crime, but a suspect would have to be aware that they were in possession of the substance,” said Inspector Mikko-Petter Masalin.
The importer of the desk, Wheslyn Group is also baffled by the case and is trying to uncover precisely when and where the drugs could have been placed in the packaging.
It is rare for Finnish companies to be linked to smuggling. Finnish Customs have only heard of a few similar cases, according to anti-crime chief Hannu Sinkkonen.
“Cases in which material would have come to Finnish companies from abroad are very few. There have been a few such cases in which narcotics have been imported, generally unintentionally. In other words, the companies have not intentionally been involved,” Sinkkonen said.
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