Helsinki District Court has sentenced several people to lengthy prison terms in a drug case related to an international motorcycle club called the Outlaws.
According to Thursday’s verdict, the men sold or otherwise distributed tens of kilos of amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis around Finland.
Last autumn, some of the drugs, including 20 kilogrammes of cocaine, were transported by private plane to Hyvinkää Airfield, about 60km north of Helsinki.
According to the police, some members of the drug ring belonged to a criminal organisation called Outlaws MC. Authorities say it is one of the oldest criminal organisations, along with the Hells Angels and Bandidos.
The longest sentence, 13 years, was handed to a 51-year-old man who, according to the verdict, served as the leader of the Frontline chapter of the Finnish Outlaws MC and played a key role in the national group.
Finnish news agency STT reported that the man has posted pictures of himself on social media in which he is wearing an Outlaws vest, posing in front of a club facility abroad with other European Outlaws leaders.
Police said that the drugs were stored in Jyväskylä and distributed around the country, mainly to the capital region.
Police seized 76.6 kilos of amphetamines, 15 kilos of cocaine and seven kilograms of marijuana as well as more than 190,000 euros in cash from the group.
Defendant: "Outlaws MC is not a criminal group"
The man has denied committing any serious drug crimes and argued that Outlaws MC is not a criminal group — but the court disagreed.
The Finnish Outlaws group claims on its website that it is not a criminal organisation but a motorcycle club. According to the site, Outlaws has four chapters in Finland, among some 300 worldwide.
Two weeks ago, 34 people were sentenced to prison for their roles in two gangs that smuggled drugs in from Sweden.
