Finnish Customs Investigate Firm Suspected of Importing and Selling Nicotine Pouches Without Paying Tobacco Tax

Mar.11
Finnish Customs Investigate Firm Suspected of Importing and Selling Nicotine Pouches Without Paying Tobacco Tax
Finnish Customs are investigating a firm suspected of importing and selling nicotine pouches without paying tobacco tax. Two Finnish citizens have been questioned as part of the probe. The authority believes the nicotine pouches were imported into Finland from other EU countries before being distributed to Finnish retailers.

Key Takeaways

 

  • Finnish Customs are investigating a firm suspected of importing and selling nicotine pouches without paying tobacco tax.
  • Two Finnish citizens have been questioned as part of the investigation.
  • Authorities believe the nicotine pouches were imported from other EU countries and then distributed to Finnish retailers.
  • The company had more than 1.1 million packages of nicotine pouches in its possession as of July 1, 2024.
  • About EUR 2.5 million in tobacco tax should have been paid on the products (approximately USD 2.90 million,).

 


 

 

2Firsts, March 11, 2026

 

According to Yle, Finnish Customs are investigating the activities of a firm suspected of importing and selling nicotine pouches without paying tobacco tax.

 

According to information obtained by Yle, two Finnish citizens have been questioned as part of the probe.

 

The authority believes that the nicotine pouches were imported into Finland from other EU countries before being distributed to Finnish retailers.

 

Lead investigator Sanna Kuparinen said that, based on the preliminary investigation and a tax audit conducted by the Tax Administration, the company had more than 1.1 million packages of nicotine pouches in its possession as of July 1, 2024. About EUR 2.5 million in tobacco tax should have been paid on these products (approximately USD 2.90 million, based on 1 EUR = 1.16 USD).

 

Nicotine pouches became subject to the duty in January 2024.

 

Hannu Sinkkonen, who heads supervision at Finnish Customs, said it appears that the illegal import of nicotine pouches has increased significantly, and therefore the number of criminal investigations initiated by customs has also increased.

 

Image Source: Yle

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2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

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