In Finland, two large illegal weapons stockpiles were discovered in the city of Kouvola, near the border with Russia. Police are investigating two private homes in the Koria and Voikkaa areas. Both cases involve serious crimes related to firearms and explosives, according to Yle.
In Koria, authorities focused on the home of a 77-year-old man who previously served in the Defense Forces. In 2018, police seized 110 unregistered weapons, over 100,000 rounds of ammunition, five military grenades, eight grenade launcher detonators, and anti-tank rounds from his home—Finland’s largest such seizure in history. In 2021, he received a suspended sentence for serious weapons offenses and providing false statements to authorities. In recent years, he has been actively involved in hunting and a shooting club.
In Voikkaa, police and the Defense Forces launched an operation due to suspicions of illegal possession of weapons and explosives. Specialists found dangerous items in the home of a 79-year-old man, some of which had to be destroyed on-site through controlled detonations. The police reported that the operation will continue for several more days and the area is under 24-hour guard. The man was detained on August 29 by court order. Local residents said he collected weapons and military equipment and previously worked in the police, including the National Bureau of Investigation.
The two cases are not directly connected but drew law enforcement attention due to the size of the arsenals. The homes are less than 14 kilometers apart, raising particular concern given the region’s proximity to the Russian border.
