DRUG POLICE SICK-LEAVES ENCUMBER INVESTIGATIONS OF SERIOUS DRUG CRIMES

More Than Half of Helsinki Drug Squad Call in Sick As Prosecutors
Investigate Tactics

Nearly half of the criminal investigators of the Helsinki police drug
crimes unit took sick-leave on Friday. Nearly all of those involved
are experienced drug crime investigators, says Chief Inspector Jari
Aarnio of the Helsinki drug police.

Aarnio fears that the mass sick-out could significantly hamper the
investigation of serious drugs cases.

Before the sudden bouts of illness, the drug police had been informed
by State Prosecutor Ari-Pekka Koivisto that a decision would be
coming soon on whether or not there is reason to suspect illegal
activities among the drug police.

Koivisto has been assessing a report drawn up by the Police
Department of the Ministry of the Interior on certain methods used by
the Helsinki drug police. Last spring suspicions were aroused that
the police had established excessively cosy relations with certain
criminal elements.

Suspicions are that drug police have agreed to overlook crimes
committed by those in the criminal underground giving tipoffs in
drugs cases. The issue was first raised about three weeks ago by the
television network Nelonen, or Channel Four.

The prosecutor must decide if there is reason to suspect that some
police officers may have committed a crime.

Koivisto said that he would make his decision on Monday.

According to information received by Helsingin Sanomat, a criminal
investigation is planned concerning the activities of about half a
dozen police officers.

Aarnio would not confirm the information, but he said that he expects
that there will be an investigation. "I can draw that conclusion
based on rather extensive police experience."

In his view, it would be in the interest of the drug police if a
preliminary investigation were launched. He also said that in his
view, the accusations are without foundation.

"It is interesting that after very successfully investigating cases
of core figures in organised crime for a year and a half now, for
some reason someone wants us out of the game. Naturally it concerns
us very much who this might be."

Aarnio says that the accusations have been a burden on the drug police.

On Friday about 20 investigators announced that they were going on
sick-leave. The Helsinki drug police have about 35 investigators.

Kimmo Hakonen, director of police activities at the Ministry of the
Interior, did not want to comment on the matter.