The Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District reported in its weekly operational bulletin that it has intensified passport and vehicle inspections at Helsinki’s South Harbour and Vuosaari cargo port after two people were discovered hidden inside a vehicle arriving on a Tallinn–Helsinki ferry last week. The pair lacked entry visas and are suspected of using a people-smuggling network operating between Estonia and Finland. The Coast Guard said seven new criminal investigations were opened during the week ending 27 September for offences including facilitation of unlawful entry, records fraud and minor border infractions. Officials credit closer real-time intelligence sharing with Estonian police for the quick detection, noting that the Estonian side had flagged the vehicle as “of interest” before it boarded the ferry. While the overall number of irregular maritime arrivals remains low—fewer than 30 so far this year—the Coast Guard warns that smugglers may be testing port security in anticipation of winter closures along land routes from Russia. Shipping companies operating on the busy Baltic shuttle route have been asked to review embarkation-point screening and to ensure cargo manifests are accurate. Business travellers should expect random ID checks when driving off ferries and budget extra time for disembarkation formalities. From a corporate-risk perspective, employers should remind assignees that transporting unauthorised passengers—even unknowingly—can lead to heavy fines and vehicle impoundment under Finland’s Carrier Liability Act. Mobility teams moving household goods or project equipment via ro-ro ferries are advised to use sealed containers and maintain chain-of-custody logs to avoid tampering during the short sea crossing.
Source: Verkkouutiset
