Trafficking in Human Beings in Finland CBSS Training Seminar on Human Trafficking Aki Harju Detective Chief Inspector National Bureau of Investigation

Summary of presentation: Introduction of THB group Finland as a transit, destination & origin country Close related offences & general observations 2

Trafficking in Human Beings Intelligence Group Criminal Intelligence Division National Bureau of Investigation -The main task is to monitor activities related to THB, pandering and prostitution in order to discover: -Organized crime relations -International connections –Arrangement of illegal immigration & labor offences 3

Tasks at the national level Monitoring of phenomena –Situation updates, assessments, statistics etc. –Planning & co-ordination of national operations Co-operation & support to the investigations –Police, Customs & The Finnish Border Guard Co-operation with other authorities and the third sector –Victims of trafficking (VOT) assisting program –Finnish Immigration Service –Ministry for Foreign Affairs –Labor authorities & unions –National & international NGO’s 4

Tasks at the international level National point of contact for law & enforcement authorities –Europol, Interpol etc. International information exchange –Supporting national & international investigations Contributions to the international projects & operations –Europol operations including two or several member states 5

Finland as a transit country of THB Typical transit case: person outside the EU has a visa to Finland, but the real destination is elsewhere –The person is from the Far East (China, India etc.) Finnair: dozens of flights to/from Far East per week –Job opportunities in the other parts of Europe or North America –Deception: the conditions, the salary, the job could be totally different -> e.g. the person is forced to prostitute 6

Finland as a destination country of THB Sexual exploitation: pandering rings from Russia & Estonia –Ruling by threats and penalties –Huge profits to the perpetrators –Organized crime group (OCG) connections Forced labor: low salary branches –Work constructions, ethnic restaurants, cleaning companies –No salary / low salary is paid tax-free –Irregulars working hours, poor working conditions –Abuse of residence status = pressure, extortion 7

Finland as a country of origin One case related to sexual exploitation in Finland –The exploitation was based on penalty payment among young drug users –The case is still in legal process District Court & The Court of Appeal: THB Finnish victims abroad – no case known 8

THB conviction in Finland Pandering organization led from Estonia Strict rules and control Threats and penalties Connection to OCG One of the prostitutes was found retarded 9

A few THB investigations per year, several close related cases: Aggravated pandering –Means, modus operandi & purpose are close to THB by sexual exploitation Aggravated arrangement of illegal immigration –Insecure status gives the opportunity to control & exploit –A visa or residence permit could cost thousands of Euros Extortion & usury by debt = First step to the trafficking in human beings Extortionate work discrimination –Means, modus operandi & purpose are close to THB by forced labor 10

General observations on pandering Pandering rings are international organizations –Possibly operating in several countries To discover pandering activities intelligence based police work is required –Most likely the prostitutes are not willing to co-operate with the authorities The victims are usually from Eastern Europe –Schengen extension in 2007 –More than visas granted per years in Russia = difficult to monitor & follow 11

General observations on arrangement of illegal immigration Human smuggling rings are international organizations –Operating in several countries in & outside the EU Most likely the smuggled persons are not willing to co-operate with the authorities (threat of penalty, fear of deportation) –When smuggled persons get caught, they are usually applying for asylum To discover smuggling operations requires: –Intelligence based police work –International co-operation & information exchange 12

General observations on extortionate work discrimination Labor is often from Eastern Europe and/or the Far East –Low skilled, probably first time abroad –Recruited by the relatives, neighbors, friends etc. –In order to get the job/work permit person has to pay Work requires low education & language skills –Cleaning, restaurant, agricultural & construction work Double work contracts (or no contract at all) –Official contract: one contract for residence permit –Unofficial contract: between the employer and the employee Usually the salary and working conditions do not meet the general agreements is Finland 13

Visas & work permits Persons working under poor conditions are very often from the countries were work permit/visa is required to travel to Finland Work permit to Finland might cost several thousands of Euros –Debt bond before arriving/beginning to work in Finland –Pressure by the debtor: controlling method = Trafficking in human beings..? No work in Finland/the purpose is not to travel to another country with a Finnish residence permit/visa = Arrangement of illegal immigration..? 14

Assessment: possible THB case in Finland… Pandering with assault and/or extortion -> sexual exploitation Abuse of smuggled person -> forced labor Street beggars – especially the question of children –Are the children been forced to beg / commit crimes? –Are the children been kept in inhuman conditions? –Begging in general: Organized activity? Relations to OCG? => Short step to the trafficking in human beings..? 15

Thank You! Aki Harju Detective Chief Inspector National Bureau Of Investigation