HELSINKI // A Finnish court sentenced the former chief detective of the Helsinki police drug squad to ten years in prison on Thursday for taking part in a drug smuggling ring.
The Helsinki district court ruled that 59-year-old Jari Aarnio played a key role in helping a gang smuggle nearly 800 kilograms of hashish from the Netherlands into Finland in 2011 and 2012, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported.
Aarnio was dismissed in 2013, ending a 30-year career combating drugs trafficking, following reports he had interfered in an investigation into the barrels where the hash had been hidden and protected the identities of culprits.
The court found that Aarnio had “recklessly” abused his position and was guilty of serious misconduct, Yle said.
Prosecutors had initially sought the maximum 13-year prison term against Aarnio, who has been described as the Nordic nation’s “most famous police officer” by Finnish media.
Aarnio, who denied the accusations against him, was taken into custody on Thursday.
* Agence France-Presse
