HELSINKI, Finland, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Finnish and Russian police have signed agreements to cooperate more closely in combating organized crime.
Helsingin Sanomat reported that Finland's National Bureau of Investigation, (NBI) and St. Petersburg and the Region of Leningrad militia and police, have signed an agreement in Vantaa to coordinate their work more closely against drug smuggling, human trafficking and economic crimes.
NBI regional chief Tero Kurenmaa said closer cooperation between Finnish and Russian authorities is important because many organized criminal gangs currently consist of both Finnish and Russian members.
The agreement directs the NBI to gather experts in different fields to liaise closely with their Russian counterparts. St. Petersburg Criminal Militia and Leningrad Region head V.J. Piotrovski said, "We will also set up common investigative units, which have not previously existed. We have long had informal cooperation, and information exchange, but no official groups have been set up."
Finnish authorities estimate that investigating international crimes costs an estimated 50-70 percent more than domestic investigations.
