Border Guard's powers to be strengthened to combat organized crime
The Finnish government has submitted a proposal aimed at strengthening the Border Guard's criminal intelligence capabilities. The purpose of the reform is to improve the authorities' ability to prevent and combat organized crime, particularly in relation to illegal entry and human trafficking.
With these changes, the Border Guard will gain better tools for monitoring and uncovering criminal activity. In the current security climate, it is essential that the authorities responsible for border security have sufficient means to intervene in international crime that exploits cross-border traffic.
The proposal suggests amendments to the Border Guard Act and the Act on the Administration of the Border Guard. The new regulations would clarify the Border Guard's role in criminal intelligence and improve cooperation between other authorities, such as the police and Customs. This cooperation is crucial for breaking criminal chains at the earliest possible stage.
The proposed changes support Finland's effort to maintain a high level of border security even in a changing international environment. Strengthening criminal intelligence is part of a broader effort to combat cross-border crime and protect people from exploitation.
The legislative amendments are intended to enter into force as soon as possible following parliamentary processing. The reform is expected to streamline the operations of the authorities and increase security at Finland's borders.