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Finland Proposes Stronger Border Guard Powers to Fight Organized Crime and Human Trafficking
HELSINKI — Finland's government has submitted a proposal to Parliament that would strengthen the Finnish Border Guard's criminal intelligence capabilities, giving the authority improved tools to prevent and combat organized crime, human trafficking and other serious criminal activity.
The government submitted the legislative proposal on 27 August 2026. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the changes are intended to ensure that the Finnish Border Guard has sufficient legal powers to prevent serious crime and respond to threats using intelligence-led methods.
A major focus of the proposal is organized crime connected to illegal entry into Finland and human trafficking. The government says stronger criminal intelligence capabilities could help authorities identify threats earlier and intervene before serious crimes are carried out.
The proposal would also expand the Border Guard's ability to use certain secret intelligence collection methods in investigations and intelligence work related to serious crime. These methods would be subject to the legal conditions and oversight set out in Finnish legislation.
The reform is part of a broader government effort to strengthen Finland's ability to combat organized crime. The Ministry of the Interior previously circulated a draft version of the proposal for consultation, with comments requested by 10 September 2026. The government has now formally submitted its proposal to Parliament for consideration.
Why is this important?
The Finnish Border Guard is responsible for much more than checking passports at the border. Its duties include border security, crime prevention and investigation within its legal mandate, as well as cooperation with other Finnish and international authorities.
According to the government, organized criminal activity linked to illegal entry and human trafficking can involve complex cross-border networks. Criminal intelligence can help authorities collect and analyses information about potential threats and criminal networks before crimes develop further.
The proposed legislation is designed to give the Border Guard a clearer and stronger legal framework for this work, particularly when dealing with serious and organized crime.
What happens next?
The proposal is now before the Finnish Parliament, where it will go through the normal legislative process, including committee consideration and parliamentary debate.
This means the proposed changes are not yet in force. Parliament can approve, amend or reject the legislation before any new powers become law.
If approved, the reform would represent another step in Finland's ongoing efforts to strengthen internal security and improve the ability of law-enforcement and border authorities to respond to organized and cross-border crime.
The proposal comes as Finland continues to focus on border security and preparedness in an increasingly complex security environment.
For people living in Finland, the key point is simple: the government is seeking to give the Finnish Border Guard stronger intelligence tools to identify and combat serious criminal activity, particularly organized crime connected to illegal entry and human trafficking. Whether those powers become law will now depend on Parliament's decision.
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