The Finnish customs authority has announced that eight individuals are accused of having smuggled over 12 tonnes of snus, a moist oral tobacco snuff, from Sweden to Finland between 2016 and 2018, The Local reported.

The authority said that a Finnish man who resides in Haparanda, Sweden, which is close to the border with Finland, is the main suspect in the two-year smuggling ring, according to the report.
The individuals are suspected of purchasing 12,700 kilos of snus in stores in Sweden and then transporting the illegal goods to customers in cars to the Kemi-Torneå area of the country and further south, The Local reported. In April 2018, the contraband was found when Finnish customs officers stopped a van which was transporting 175 kilos of snus.
Snus has been barred from sale in all other EU countries besides Sweden since 1992. Finnish residents are only permitted to bring small amounts of snus into Finland for private use.
A second suspect, who also lives in Sweden, is believed of having assisted the main suspect in smuggling the 12 tonnes of snus across the border, the authority said. The other six individuals accused of taking part in the crime live close to Helsinki and Kajanaland, The Local reported. All suspects are accused of aggravated tax fraud and smuggling, according to the report.
The case is set to be heard before court later this autumn.