Raja.fi news

Multipurpose Maritime Operation concerning coast guard functions to commence in the Baltic Sea

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:14:00 GMT

The Border Guard acts as the national contact point in Finland and coordinates the participation of other Finnish authorities. In addition to the Border Guard, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom participates in the operation in terms of merchant vessel inspections, and the Southwest Finland Economic Development Centre, together with the Government of Åland, participate in the operation in terms of fisheries control.

One of the Border Guard’s goals for this operation is to develop European and regional cooperation concerning coast guard functions. Within the framework of the operation, we can also combine the services provided by EU agencies with our national capabilities. The services provided by the EU agencies consist of, inter alia, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems and other surveillance systems and satellite services that are used in enhancing maritime situational awareness.

The Baltic Sea is shallow, narrow and one of the most heavily trafficked sea areas in the world. The risk of a maritime accident is high due to the shadow fleet, the prevalent GNSS-jamming and spoofing of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions. Active cooperation helps with risk management. European Multipurpose Maritime Operations have been implemented in the Baltic Sea since 2023.

EMSA is the European Maritime Safety Agency. Frontex is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. EFCA is the European Fisheries Control Agency.

Coast guard functions (Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/1222) refer to the following maritime measures of public authorities (a) maritime safety, including vessel traffic management; (b) ship casualty and maritime assistance service; (c) fisheries inspection and control; (d) maritime border control; (e) maritime environmental protection and response; (f) prevention and suppression of trafficking and smuggling and connected maritime law enforcement; (g) maritime search and rescue; (h) maritime monitoring and surveillance; (i) maritime customs activities; (j) maritime accident and disaster response; (k) maritime, ship and port security.

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The Finnish Border Guard’s drone response capability advances

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:32:00 GMT

The Finnish Border Guard is developing its counter-drone capability. In its target state the system will be based on a fixed surveillance and response system, drone countering equipment of the patrols, and protected vehicles and boats with counter-drone capabilities to be used nationwide. The system is designed to be compatible with the systems of other security authorities.

The Finnish Border Guard is initiating the procurement of patrol vehicles and boats with counter-drone capabilities with funding now to be granted. These vehicles and boats will be used in national border security duties, surveillance and protection of territorial integrity and safeguarding of critical infrastructure. The Finnish Border Guard will first procure evaluation versions of the patrol vehicle and boat, their intelligent network solution and a data integration with the management systems. The solutions will be evaluated during year 2027 and the beginning of year 2028. After the evaluations, preparations will be made to procure the patrol vehicle and boat production series. The financing of the procurement will be decided by the next government.

Both the patrol cars and boats will be fitted with same the capabilities, equipment and systems. The solutions will be prepared and supplied by a Finnish–Nordic industrial consortium led by the Finnish Border Guard. The protected patrol boats with counter-drone capabilities will be supplied by Marine Alutech Oy. The equivalent patrol cars will be supplied by Saab AB, and built on the frame of the Sisu GTP. The intelligent network solution will be supplied by Nokia Oyj. The integration of data with the management systems of the Finnish Border Guard and other security authorities will be supplied by the Finnish company 61N Solutions Oy.

The consortium had a joint meeting today, during which the Finnish Border Guard signed a contract with Marine Alutech Oy and a letter of intent with Saab AB and Nokia Oyj. The parties to the letter of intent agreed to aim to enter into a supply contract by the end of 2026. The Finnish Border Guard already has a contract with 61N Solutions Oy.

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The Finnish Border Guard receives 44 million euros for procurement of counter-drone capability

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:35:00 GMT

The Finnish Border Guard is developing its counter-drone capability. In its target state, the system will be based on a fixed surveillance and response system, drone-countering equipment of the patrols, and protected vehicles and boats with counter-drone capabilities to be used nationwide. The system is being designed to be compatible with those of other safety authorities.

The Finnish Border Guard has initiated the procurement of a fixed surveillance and response system for the eastern border and the coast of Finland. The Border Guard is building a fixed system in the principal areas during 2026 with funding now granted. The coverage and drone-countering capability of the system will be developed to the target state during 2027–2029. EU funding of approximately 36 million euros, which is currently being applied for, will also be used for this purpose. The systems of the Border Guard are being designed to be compatible with the systems of the Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish police.

A mobile, nationwide observation and response capability is an essential part of a national multi-layered counter-drone system. The Finnish Border Guard is initiating the procurement of patrol vehicles and boats with counter-drone capabilities with funding now proposed. Additionally, the Border Guard is accelerating the life cycle update of the operational systems of the offshore patrol vessel Turva. This update includes acquiring more effective counter-drone systems.

The Finnish Border Guard will also be introducing two new offshore patrol vessels with effective drone observation and response capability into operational use during 2026 and 2027.

“The government proposal accelerates the ongoing development of the national counter-drone capability. The Finnish Border Guard is utilising national and EU funding to build a system that significantly increases our ability to effectively observe and counter drones and facilitates inter-authority cooperation and crime investigation. We, together with industry partners, must have high readiness to update our technologies and methods as needs change”, says Major General Jari Tolppanen, Chief of the Technical Division of the Finnish Border Guard Headquarters.

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The Border Museum welcomes visitors in the summer

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:04:00 GMT

You will find summer opening hours and instructions for visitors at Contact information and visitor instructions for the Border Museum | The Border Guard

The Border Museum’s main exhibition, Guardians of Finland – The Border Guard in the heart of border security then and now, has been updated, in other words, there is a lot to see for both new and old museum guests.

The exhibition presents border guard’s work throughout the Border Guard history. We tell about border security and linking phenomena and how they have changed the Border Guard’s operations throughout the years. Moreover, you have the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the Border Guard’s aviation personnel as life savers, as well as with the history of war time border troops.

Welcome to the Border Museum!

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The Finnish Border Guard participated in the Clean Sea oil pollution response exercise

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:54:00 GMT

In the exercise scenario, an oil tanker ran aground, which resulted in a 1 500m3 oil spill into the sea, as one of the vessel’s oil containers broke down. During these two days, the participants practised international cooperation for recovering the oil, transferring the recovered oil between vessels (Ship to Ship transfer), as well as into a temporary storage in the harbour (Ship to Shore transfer). To control serious maritime accidents, international cooperation and support from the other coastal states in the Baltic Sea region is vital. These shared exercises further the development of shared operational models and let us gather experience of the methods and capabilities of our neighbouring countries, in order that we are ready for efficient cooperation when it comes to the crunch.

Louhi prepares for transfer of the recovered oil in the harbour.

Offshore patrol vessel Turva prepares for transfer of recovered oil in the harbour.

In total, 11 vessels from Estonia and Finland participated in the exercise. From Finland, the Finnish Border Guard’s offshore patrol vessel Turva, the Finnish Navy’s vessel Louhi, and the contract vessel for oil spill response, Grisslan, participated in the exercise. Furthermore, the Finnish Border Guard’s Dornier surveillance aircraft flew over the exercise area on both days to visually observe how the oil spread. Moreover, also specialists from the Finnish Border Guard took part in the exercise.

Offshore patrol vessel Turva and AG Louhi recover oil at sea using wing booms.

Common situational picture was used and shared in the exercise, using the Finnish Border Guard’s MERT information system. In addition, Finnish maritime pollution response arrangements were presented to the representatives of Estonian Climate Ministry and Estonian National Audit Office.

A group of representatives of Estonian ministries familiarising themselves with the exercise.

In Finland, maritime pollution response is carried out by multiple authorities, such as the Finnish Navy, state enterprises, as well as reference centres. In accordance with the Rescue Act, the Finnish Border Guard takes care of rescue operations in connection to maritime oil and chemical spills in Finnish territorial waters and in Finland’s exclusive economic zone, as well as coordinates readiness for them. The rescue departments of the wellbeing service counties are responsible for response actions along the coast and on the shores. Oil spill response volunteers participate in the cleaning of shores and oiled animals.

More information: media@raja.fi

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Rajamme Vartijat 1/2026 celebrates the one hundred years of Border Guard education

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:52:00 GMT

Border Museum Specialist Jani Loijas presents the first stages of Border Guard education in his article. Moreover, the Border and Coast Guard Academy talks about their current operations, as well as of officer’s education. Coast guards’ competence together with maritime safety education complete our situational awareness.

Furthermore, Rajamme Vartijat also presents today’s conscript training, as well as border guard and special forces education. Lapland Border Guard District presents their highly praised introduction programme in an article.

To continue, Petri Nevalainen sheds light to the implementation of our new physical performance programme – this is how the Border Guard furthers the capability and wellbeing of its employees. Finally, you can get to know the Border Guard of the Year 2025, First Lieutenant Sami Lappi.

Rajamme Vartijat, published twice a year, is the Border Guard’s own magazines discussing actual topics. We tell about our work at the Border Guard and enlighten current phenomena within the Border Guard’s field of operation. The magazine is always first published online.

Rajamme Vartijat magazine’s main articles are also published in English:

The early stages of training in the Finnish Border Guard
Special intervention units trust research data and intense training
Preparedness officer – coordinator of information and surprises

Open the magazine as PDF file.
Previous Rajamme Vartijat magazines are available on Rajamedia website.

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EMSA aircraft supports maritime situational awareness during the summer

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:36:00 GMT

EMSA's unmanned aircraft, RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems), supports the Finnish Border Guard in maritime coast guard functions. Coast guard functions are a European broad concept that includes border control in the maritime area, maritime safety, maritime security, maritime search and rescue, fisheries control, customs control, law enforcement at sea and protection of the marine environment. The surveillance and performance of the unmanned aircraft system is utilized either by the Finnish Border Guard directly or in support of other authorities.

The focus of the operations is on the aforementioned coast guard operations in the Northern Baltic Sea, mainly outside the archipelago. The Coast Guards plan flights as part of their own operational activities. The Command Centre of Western Finland Coast Guard manages the flights carried out in Finnish airspace. The flights are carried out from June until autumn.

– Unmanned aviation has been part of the Border Guard's operations for several years. An RPAS of this size also offers a wide operating range on the open sea and improves our situational picture of the maritime area. The flights complement our patrolling at sea, which we do with boats, vessels, helicopters and surveillance aircrafts, says border security expert Lt. Commander Pekka Parkkali from the Border Guard's headquarters.

The contract supplier for RPAS flight operations is Airbus Helicopters and the flights are carried out using a Flexrotor aircraft. The remotely piloted aircraft is fixed-wing and can operate in the air for several hours over a wide operating range. The aircraft is a so-called VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) device, meaning it is capable of taking off and landing vertically using a rotor.

The operation improves situational awareness

The objective of the operation is to increase the Border Guard's performance in border and maritime safety and security tasks among other coast guard functions by utilizing EMSA's resources in the Finnish maritime area, coast and archipelago. The operation will help to maintain a better situational understanding of the sea areas. In addition to surveillance tasks, the aim is to uncover, for example, possible illegal oil spills from ships and cross-border crime and, if necessary, to support maritime rescue tasks.
In addition to Finland, Estonia and Latvia will participate in this year's operation. The RPAS system base is located in Estonia, on Saaremaa, from where take-off and landing will take place. A base has been established in Finland, which also enables operations in the Archipelago Sea area.

Flexrotor:

Wingspan 3 m
Length 2 m
Maximum takeoff weight approx. 28 kg
Flight time over 10 hours
Flight altitude approx. 1-3 km

The aircraft deployed by the EMSA to the Baltic Sea is a fixed-wing aircraft. It monitors the maritime situation and transmits near-real-time situational information to authorities in the Baltic Sea region.

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The Border Guard tests safeguarding of subsea cables together with its partners

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:57:00 GMT

To continue, a system based on distributed acoustic sensing was tested on the seabed. This system enables us to identify a threat or a risk approaching our subsea cables. Proactive or rapid identification may hinder, or at least minimise, damages to subsea cables.

The project is based on distributed acoustic sensing, that is to say, DAS technology, where the fibre-optic cable observes and measures abbreviating vibrations of the seabed. The DAS device analyses changes in the reflections of light on the optic fibre, which enables us to detect, for instance, an approaching vessel that is dragging its anchor.

– The Border Guard leads the work to safeguard critical maritime infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, based on the EU Action Plan on Cable Security. By enabling these tests, we further new measures to protect critical maritime infrastructure of EU coastal states in the Baltic Sea region. ‘It is important that companies who own critical infrastructure participate in the testing, along with the authorities’, Ilja Iljin, Border Guard Headquarters specialist preparing the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Cable Security, states.

A remotely piloted subsea robot was lowered in the sea from offshore patrol vessel Uisko.

After successful field testing, the development of the system continues in cooperation with our partners.

In addition to the Border Guard, also the Naval Academy, Fingrid, Gasgrid, Geological Survey of Finland and Seismological Institute at the University of Helsinki participate in the project, in addition to Elisa Oyj, whose subsea cable has been the test objective. Furthermore, material from the Border Guard and the Finnish Navy was used in the tests.

Protecting our critical maritime infrastructure calls for a new approach, where the authorities and owners of critical infrastructure, as well as scientists, cooperate in order to find new solutions. Ultimately, this work benefits our nationals, as the critical infrastructure, and thus, the operations of our society, can be protected.

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A Finnish support group to Latvia

Tue, 26 May 2026 08:25:00 GMT

The support group consists of border control patrols, which carry out similar border security duties in Latvia as they do in Finland. Support will be provided until 14 June 2026. The request for support is based on the cooperation agreement between the Finnish and the Latvian Border Guards, as well as on the Prüm decision. Short-term Prüm support is provided, for instance, to support another member state in different disturbances, such as the current situation on the Latvian border, where the numbers concerning irregular migration have increased towards the summer.

The Finnish Border Guard constantly has officials in Europe also via the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex. These assignments support the border security in the target state.

These assignments improve the professional competence of the Finnish Border Guard’s personnel, as well as increase their perspective of the European border security situation and of its development in different countries. Finland also receives support via Frontex.

Frontex officials are continuously posted in Finland to support the Finnish Border Guard in border security duties.

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Conscripts training to be renewed at Border Guard Companies

Thu, 21 May 2026 11:35:00 GMT

North Karelia Border Guard District trains border jaegers in Onttola and Lapland Border Guard District in Ivalo. In the Border Jaeger Companies, conscripts receive training for demanding reconnaissance tasks. Currently, the service time for crew is 165 days, while the corresponding time for leaders is 347 days. The competence demands for conscripts increase, and the service time for crew will extend to 347 days in the new training.

The new conscripts training starts in the Border Jaeger Company in Lapland Border Guard District as of July intake II/2028, and in the Border Jaeger Company in North Karelia Border Guard District as of January intake I/2029. Thereafter, one intake per year will commence their service in the Lapland Border Guard District in July and, correspondingly, one in the North Karelia Border Guard District in January.

The new border jaeger training

The Border Guard updates its conscripts training to better meet the requirements of modern battle field and wartime border troop duties. The demands and opportunities arising from military alliances and new technology, among others, are acknowledged when updating the training.

All Border Guard conscripts receive commando and reconnaissance training, where the focus is on weapons and shooting training, sapper training, signal and medical training, as well as survival skills. Conscripts also receive training in border surveillance, which enables them to operate in the Border Guard’s primary tasks in emergency conditions or in different crisis situations. Border jaegers, trained at the border, learn to operate in challenging conditions and to survive in the nature.

The versatile and demanding border jaeger training requires good health and physical condition, as well as stress tolerance. Skiing skills and experience of moving in the terrain, inter alia, are beneficial for the trainee, since the training is partially carried out in the wilderness. Border jaeger training gives the conscripts a chance to challenge themselves in demanding duties and nature conditions.

Voluntary military training for women at the Border Guard

It is possible to apply for voluntary military service for women in all Border Guard units that provide training. As of summer 2026, it will be possible to conduct voluntary military service for women in Lapland Border Jaeger Company. Conducting voluntary military service for women has already been possible in Onttola, North Karelia, and in the Special Border Jaeger Company in Immola via Special Forces recruitment.

Renovation of garrisons and training facilities further achievement of educational goals

The Border Guard’s administrative units that provide training have renovated and constructed new, more functional and healthy training and accommodation facilities for conscripts. After the garrisons of Lapland Border Guard District are completed, the renovations will continue in Immola and Onttola.

The Border Guard trains border jaegers in Ivalo and Onttola, as well as special border jaegers in Immola. Applying for special border jaeger goes via Special Forces recruitment and entrance exam. Applying for border jaeger takes place in call-up.

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The Finnish Border Guard intensified its operations in the Gulf of Finland and in the area of the southeast border as a part of the official response

Fri, 15 May 2026 07:24:00 GMT

The Finnish Border Guard maintains a readiness to intensify surveillance and safeguarding measures in accordance with the changes in the risk environment, and develops its surveillance and response capability together with Finnish technology companies. Monitoring and safeguarding our territorial integrity is a part of the Finnish Border Guard’s daily duties.

At the moment, there is nothing more to report.

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Finnish Border Guard launches new partnership with Elisa and Sensofusion for drone detection

Fri, 08 May 2026 09:30:00 GMT

The Finnish Border Guard has previously signed an agreement with Sensofusion on the procurement and construction of a drone detection system. The technical prerequisites for the current trial result from cooperation between Elisa and Sensofusion. During the trial, all parties are responsible for their own costs.

The sensor network produces detection data on drones for the Finnish Border Guard's use in its surveillance operations. The trial enhances drone detection ahead of the full deployment of the actual system, and provides the Finnish Border Guard with an opportunity to develop its operating models and expertise. The system is based on Sensofusion's identification technology and Elisa's digital infrastructure.

The Finnish Border Guard develops counter-drone capabilities both in its own separate projects and in cooperation with other authorities.

Together with other authorities, the Finnish Border Guard actively participates in building a national, layered framework of drone detection and counter-drone capabilities.

No single detection system can comprehensively detect all drones, which is why effective detection capability must be built using a multi-technology approach.

Views of the parties

– Maintaining border security requires continuous development of capabilities. Detecting drones is a new kind of task that cannot be solved with a single system. It is excellent that Finnish industry was able to swiftly support the Finnish Border Guard in strengthening border security, says Major General Jari Tolppanen, Chief of the Technical Division of the Finnish Border Guard Headquarters.

– As a Finnish operator, Elisa wants to be in the heart of developing and offering technology that increases security. The cooperation with the Finnish Border Guard and Sensofusion supports this goal and shows how combining data and network infrastructure can quickly promote innovative solutions that strengthen Finland's comprehensive security, says Topi Manner, CEO of Elisa.

– This project is a good example of what kind of expertise can be found in Finland and how Finnish companies are able to react quickly when needed, says Tuomas Rasila, CEO of Sensofusion.

Duration and extension of the trial

The trial runs until 30 September 2026 and a decision on any extension will be made separately.

The Finnish Border Guard will continue to systematically develop its drone detection and counter-drone capabilities through both inter-authority cooperation and partnerships, mapping a wide range of suitable technologies.

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Maritime security and CISE information exchange

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:22:00 GMT

The Finnish Border Guard will lead the MARSEC EU 26 joint exercise for law enforcement authorities, coast guards and navies in the EU. The exercise develops international information exchange and regionally coordinated responses to maritime threats. Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) information exchange will be tested during the exercise.

The Finnish Border Guard and the Swedish Coast Guard to begin exchanging classified information

The joint development of CISE information exchange with the Swedish Coast Guard has begun. The goal is to start exchanging classified information between Finland and Sweden in 2027, utilising the CISE Classified Network information sharing environment. The Finnish Border Guard is also currently engaged in discussions on CISE information exchange with other Baltic Sea countries.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will provide information to the Finnish Border Guard through the CISE information exchange environment. The Finnish Border Guard has specified its requirements to EMSA regarding reports that support its operations.

Use cases and operational models have been mapped

The information to be exchanged within the CISE environment was mapped by defining use cases. The Finnish Border Guard is able to negotiate with EU Member States and agencies on which classified information it wants to share and receive. A large number of Finnish Border Guard experts participated in defining the use cases and operational models. The mapping process also identified the information systems from which the data originates. In addition to Finnish Border Guard data, the overall framework includes data from other Finnish authorities. Negotiations on sharing data from other Finnish authorities via CISE have also begun.

Technical design and implementation of CISE underway

The technical design and implementation phase, as well as the data protection impact assessment, are currently in process. The technical implementation of the information exchange environment is closely linked to other IT projects of the Finnish Border Guard.

A test node is currently being set up with the support of EMSA. The goal is to have the test node, initial test use cases and test data transfers operational by the end of June 2026. The forthcoming CISE Classified Network environment is intended to enable the exchange of classified information between EU Member States, and it will be deployed once EMSA has established the necessary capabilities.

Benefits of CISE information exchange

CISE enables the exchange of classified information (EU restricted). Information received from partners complements the national maritime situational awareness and enables the compilation of better analyses.
Each actor can use their own information systems and software, into which data received from partners is delivered via CISE.
CISE information exchange promotes cooperation between law enforcement authorities and military actors among regional authorities and organisations responsible for maritime safety and coast guard operations in the EU, as well as between EU agencies.
CISE-chat feature enables fast, focused and secure information exchange and file sharing.

External funding supporting the development of Finland’s international maritime situational awareness

With the European Union participating in the funding, the Development of the International Maritime Situational Picture 2 project is receiving funding from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). With the EMFAF funding, the safety of the seas, inter alia, will be improved by supporting initiatives that increase the maritime area monitoring and ensure sustainable use of these areas. With the €1.4 million in EMFAF funding allocated to the Finnish Border Guard, the CISE information exchange environment is being designed and built to enable the sharing and receiving of maritime security-related information between EU Member States.

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The Finnish Border Guard procures an anti-drone system – this five-million-euro investment strengthens Finnish border security

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:48:00 GMT

This procurement will significantly improve Finnish border control capability and security against the threats posed by unmanned aircraft. The said investment is approximately five million euro, and the European Union funds 90% of it.

– In addition that the procurement develops Finland’s ability to combat drones, it also supports the goals in the European Commission’s new operational plan concerning drone threats. We share this challenge with the entire Europe, Deputy Chief of the Finnish Border Guard, Rear Admiral Tom Hanén emphasises the importance of this procurement as part of extensive European security development.

Furthermore, the new drone system will be used in maintaining border security, in protection of the Finnish Border Guard’s own objects and operations, in combatting and investigating crime, in maritime search and rescue, as well as in safeguarding territorial integrity. The system detects, locates, identifies and, where necessary, interrupts unauthorised or hostile drones. However, the development continues, the Chief of Technical Division, Major General Jari Tolppanen, remarks.

– This procurement is important, but the development will continue for years. Currently, we are preparing additional investments of several million euro for anti-drone operations. We are happy to participate in development of security technology and ecosystems together with industries. Technological sovereignty and security of supply are important, Tolppanen continues.

Sensofusion Oy, the company that will deliver the system, is an experienced pioneer in detecting and combatting drone operations.

– Our cooperation goes all the way back to the first years of Sensofusion and, thus, the Finnish Border Guard has had a major impact on how our company has developed, the CEO of Sensofusion Oy, Tuomas Rasila, states.

The Finnish Border Guard and Sensofusion Oy signed the contract on 24 March 2026.

Rear Admiral Tom Hanén and CEO Tuomas Rasila, Sensofusion Oy.

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The Finnish Border Guard celebrates its 107th anniversary on 21 March 2026

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:59:00 GMT

Promotions and rewarding of personnel

The President of the Republic has promoted 36 Finnish Border Guard officials. Furthermore, 25 Finnish Border Guard officials were promoted in the reserve.

Commander Jani Järäinen is promoted to Captain at the Finnish Border Guard on 21 March 2026.

The Border Guard of the Year 2025 is First Lieutenant Sami Lappi

Currently, First Lieutenant Sami Lappi serves at Lapland Border Guard District. First Lieutenant Lappi is an active and competent employee, who is well-liked and respected both as a specialist and as a superior.

Crosses, medals and plaques of merit and central government medals of merit

The Minister of the Interior has awarded Finnish Border Guard personnel with the Cross of Merit of the Finnish Border Guard (6pcs) and with the Medal of Merit of the Finnish Border Guard (66pcs). The Chief of the Finnish Border Guard has awarded the Finnish Border Guard personnel with Plaque of Merit of The Finnish Border Guard (3pcs). Furthermore, the President of the Republic has awarded 77 Finnish Border Guard officials with Central Government Medal of Merit for Public Officials.

In addition to Finnish Border Guard personnel, the following representatives of our partners have been awarded

As an acknowledgement of distinguished work for the benefit of the Finnish Border Guard, the Minister of the Interior has awarded the following persons with the Cross of Merit of the Finnish Border Guard on 21 March 2026:

Development Manager Artsi Alanne
Ambassador Piritta Asunmaa
Director General Egert Belitšev
Director Alexander Fritsch
Director of Result Area Vesa Halonen
Senior Vice President Henri Hansson
Municipal Manager Erno Heikkinen
City Manager Tomas Häyry
Rescue Chief Peter Johansson
Permanent State Under-Secretary Satu Keskinen
Hallitusneuvos (Finnish honorary title) Kari Klemm
Chief Executive Officer Kari Kosonen
Deputy Police Chief Seppo Kujala
Brigadier General Ari Laaksonen
Lieutenant General Jari Mikkonen
Director of Legal Affairs Juha Rainne
Permanent Secretary Olli-Pekka Rantala
City Manager Tuomo Sallinen
Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara
Director of Maritime Transport Sanna Sonninen
Rear Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen
Deputy Director Jonna Turunen
Ambassador Teemu Turunen
Major General Jarmo Vähätiitto

As an acknowledgement of distinguished work for the benefit of the Finnish Border Guard, the Minister of the Interior has awarded the following persons with the Medal of Merit of the Finnish Border Guard on 21 March 2026:

Chief Inspector Juha Hietala
Deputy Head of Division Niklas Karlman
Detective Sergeant Seppo Kemppainen
Chief of Security Pekka Nevalainen
Chief of Emergency Medical Services Tomi Nieminen
Physician Marko Pohjanpaju
Production Manager Petri Saarinen
Chief Information Officer Ari Takkinen
Instructor in charge Olli Vesivalo

The Chief of the Finnish Border Guard has awarded the following external individuals, units and organisations with the Finnish Border Guard’s bronze plaque of merit for distinguished work for the benefit of the Finnish Border Guard on 21 March 2026:

Chief of Security and Emergency Management in social and healthcare Mikko Aaltonen
Lieutenant, Senior Grade, Kaarlo Bang
Finavia Oyj, Helsinki Airport Operations Centre
Captain Lasse Lahikainen
Head Guard Roger Lanndér
North Karelia Regional Office
Chief Inspector Hannu Rönkkö
Detective Inspector Kimmo Tuulenkari
Lieutenant Colonel (res.) Pasi Tyystjärvi

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The Finnish Border Guard to replace its maritime search and rescue helicopters in the HVX project

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:13:00 GMT

The aim of this project is to replace the current maritime search and rescue helicopters with one multipurpose helicopter type in the 2030s. In addition, we aim to define the requirements and possibilities to replace the smaller helicopters with the same helicopter type on a later date, if decided separately. Moreover, the project acknowledges the requirements of other authorities and stakeholders.

– The Finnish Border Guard has a maritime search and rescue helicopter system with the highest capability in the Baltic Sea region. Moreover, it has also proved itself in the changed safety environment, where readiness, flexible use of resources and cooperation of authorities are emphasised. Replacing the current capability is the Finnish Border Guard’s minimum objective. It is necessary to develop our surveillance and influencing capability, networking, as well as protection. Furthermore, we have also identified several possibilities to improve the helicopter system’s cost efficiency, Major General Jari Tolppanen, Project Leader of the HVX project, states.

Currently, we wait for responses to our request for information from the potential suppliers, which are Airbus, Bell, Leonardo and Sikorsky. Through the said request for information, the Finnish Border Guard aims to identify the suitability of the helicopter types, their risks, the helicopter manufacturers’ delivery capability, as well as the cost impacts. This week, the HVX project met with the suppliers.

– In these meetings, the helicopter manufacturers received further information concerning the details in the request for information. Thus, these meetings contributed to that the responses to our request for information will be of the highest quality, as well as comparable. Top experts from the Finnish Border Guard have been appointed to the project group, whereby I can pursue this project with confidence, Project Manager, Commander Kimmo Ahvonen reports.

The helicopter manufacturers shall reply to the request for information in April, at the latest. Based on these replies to the request for information, the Finnish Border Guard will specify the objectives for the helicopter system, and utilises this information in the competitive tendering that will be arranged in due time. Replacement of the maritime search and rescue helicopters will be a question for the following government to decide on.

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Chief of the Polish Border Guard visited the Finnish Border Guard

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:49:00 GMT

The Chief of the Polish Border Guard received an extensive presentation of the Finnish Border Guard’s operations. The visit included familiarisation with the Gulf of the Finland Coast Guard District, the Border and Coast Guard Academy, the Air Patrol Squadron, as well as introduction to the situation at the eastern border and the operations of Southeast Finland Border Guard District.

The Border Chiefs stated that the cooperation of the Finnish and the Polish Border Guards is on a good level. Close cooperation and information exchange are vital both for combatting cross-border crime and for maintaining situational awareness of border safety and maritime security.

The Polish delegation also included the Deputy Chief of the Polish Border Guard, Brigadier General Grzegorz Niemiec, and Rear Admiral Andrzej Prokopski from the Polish Coast Guard. In addition, Commanders of the administrative units visited, as well as the Chief of the Border and Coast Guard Division at the Finnish Border Guard Headquarters, Brigadier General Mika Rytkönen, participated in the visit.

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Trafficking in human beings focused on traffic at internal borders in 2025

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:31:00 GMT

Regarding the traffic at internal borders, the estimated numbers are based on interviews with those who have sought asylum in Finland. The assessment only acknowledges the reports from those individuals who have contacted the authorities themselves, for instance, to apply for asylum.

– Thus, the actual number is probably slightly higher. Regarding the internal borders, it is often unknown from where and when a person has arrived in Finland. In general, we know very little of these individuals who illegally enter Finland, unless they report themselves to the authorities, Commander Juho Vanhatalo from the Finnish Border Guard Headquarters says. Vanhatalo acts as Head of Criminal Investigation Unit at the Legal Division of Finnish Border Guard Headquarters.

Under the Finnish Criminal Code, migrant smuggling equals to trafficking in human beings. In Finland, the Finnish Border Guard investigates more than 90% of the observed people smuggling cases. In 2025, the Finnish Border Guard detected 71 suspected cases of facilitation of irregular migration. In a third of these cases, it was considered reasoned to suspect aggravated facilitation of irregular migration. The deed is considered as aggravated, if, for instance, it has been committed in the context of a criminal organisation.

According to Vanhatalo, in the majority of migrant smuggling cases revealed in Finland, the smuggled individuals have crossed the Schengen external border within the territory of another member state. After this, they have been smuggled into Finland, or via Finland, through the internal borders. Last year, this was the situation in approximately 70% of the cases.

– It is entirely a question of hidden crime. This means, in practice, that none of the cases are brought to the attention of authorities via a report of an offence. Instead, these cases are detected and revealed through authorities’ own surveillance and information acquisition.

According to the observations made by the Finnish Border Guard, it is quite common that the smugglers have been paid up to ten thousand euro, and more, for the illegal trip to Finland.

– These are significant sums for people coming from poor conditions. Additionally, there is a risk that the smuggled individual has also remained in debt to their smuggler. This in turn increases the individual’s risk to end up as victim of crime, or that they become involved in criminal activities themselves, Vanhatalo explains the effects of migrant smuggling on the smuggled individual.

Some of the cases revealed in air traffic are detected from among the outgoing traffic. In five migrant smuggling cases in 2025, eight smuggled individuals were detected, in total. They were caught when trying to leave Helsinki Airport for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Passports of Japan and Hongkong, inter alia, were used for travelling. At the border, these documents were found to be forgeries. Currently, the Finnish Border Guard investigates one of the cases as aggravated facilitation of irregular migration and as aggravated trafficking in human beings.

The victims of trafficking in human beings, detected at the check on exit at the airport, had also arrived in Finland through internal borders. According to Vanhatalo, authorities have defective situational awareness of the Schengen internal traffic and, in addition, authorities have limited possibilities to intervene in the Schengen internal cross-border traffic of criminals.

Globally, migrant smuggling, and the exploitation of the smuggled people, involve severe international organised crime. Migrant smuggling cases revealed in Finland are typically committed by foreign criminal groups, and extend only partially to Finland. For instance, when the aim is to smuggle people via Finland to other parts of Europe.

Vanhatalo states that, based on investigations carried out in Finland, and joint operations of European authorities, we know that people from countries in Southeast Asia and Africa are being smuggled into Europe. Some smuggled individuals end up as victims of pandering, forced labour or other humanly degrading conditions.

Some of the smuggled individuals are paying customers. These cases do not involve other exploitation, apart from the high price of the trip. The more money a person smuggled into Finland has, the better their position is.

– On the opposite, the most vulnerable individuals, smuggled into Finland and Europe, end up in conditions where no one should. Therefore, it is essential to detect these most vulnerable individuals, Vanhatalo summarises the issue of migrant smuggling.

The Finnish Border Guard maintains Finland’s border security. It means the measures taken nationally and abroad for the purpose of preventing a breach of the provisions on crossing the national or external border and the threats arising from cross-border passenger traffic to public order and security, combatting cross-border crime, and ensuring the security of cross-border traffic.

Moreover, the Finnish Border Guard also carries out police and customs duties, search, rescue and first aid tasks, leads maritime search and rescue missions, is in charge of maritime pollution response in oil and chemical spills from vessels in Finnish territorial waters and economic zone, as well as coordinates preparedness for them, and participates in military defence.

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Eastern border fence already covers more than one hundred kilometres of the border in Southeast Finland

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:30:00 GMT

110 kilometres of protection against illegal border crossings

In Southeast Finland, the border fence is already 110 kilometres long. When the project is completed, Southeast Finland will have up to 141 kilometres of border fence. Commander of Southeast Finland Border Guard District, Colonel Jaakko Olli, assesses that the eastern barrier is necessary in the current security situation. He is in charge of border control at the part of the terrain border between Finland and Russia where border traffic used to be the heaviest.

–The border fence significantly improves the efficiency of border control, situational awareness and mobility of patrols, Colonel Olli states.

The eastern border barrier includes a robust fence, a modern technical surveillance system utilising artificial intelligence, as well as a road running along the fence. The border fence is constructed to those areas, where the operative need for it is the greatest, based on a risk assessment.

–In case of instrumentalised irregular migration, as well as to control large, even violent crowds, the eastern border fence is completely imperative. It also furthers the occupational safety of border guards, Colonel Olli states.

The border fence prevents individual illegal border crossings and, naturally, for those involved in cross-border crime, it significantly increases the risk to get caught, he adds.
For the time being, some parts of the border in Southeast Finland will remain unfenced. These areas include, inter alia, vast water bodies and areas with an already existing natural barrier at the border.

In the northern part of the eastern border, population close to the border, as well as roads and easily accessible terrain decrease and, together with them, the need for a physical border fence.

Extensive technical surveillance

Along with the eastern border fence, the technical surveillance capacity at the eastern border also expands. The border fence provides a real-time situational picture of the border area and alerts the Border Guard to any deviating actions.

–We are able to allocate patrols more efficiently and cost-effectively than before in order to prevent criminal operations and to catch those suspected of offences, Colonel Olli says.

According to him, the electricity grid and telecommunications that follow the eastern barrier also enable us to introduce rapidly evolving surveillance technique:

–As it is, we are currently preparing the procurement of a radio technical surveillance system and an anti-drone system, among others. The eastern border surveillance capacity advances now in a good manner and as required by the situation, Olli continues.

In the beginning of this year, the barrier fence currently under construction has already stopped two illegal border crossings in Southeast Finland. In one of these cases, the border guard district caught individuals who are suspected of and wanted for serious offences elsewhere in Finland.

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The Finnish Border Guard joined the European Gendarmerie Force

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:51:00 GMT

The accession was unanimously approved at EUROGENDFOR’s high-level decision-making meeting held in Cascais, Portugal, in December. The approval was preceded by a detailed assessment of the Finnish Border Guard’s suitability for integration into the European Gendarmerie Force, conducted during the autumn. Based on the final report of EUROGENFOR’s international evaluation team, the Finnish Border Guard met the established criteria with excellent results.

Partner membership enables the Finnish Border Guard to strengthen both the cooperation with the EUROGENDFOR organisation, and the bilateral cooperation with European gendarmerie forces. Through this partnership, the Finnish Border Guard can participate in EUROGENDFOR meetings, training and development activities, information exchange, and contribute personnel to international operations. The Finnish Border Guard will also assign a liaison officer to the EUROGENDFOR Headquarters in Vicenza, Italy.

The European Gendarmerie Force cooperation supports the construction and maintenance of the Finnish Border Guard’s readiness and capabilities. Moreover, the cooperation furthers the Finnish Border Guard’s international training cooperation. This cooperation brings Finland closer to Europe’s large law enforcement and military organisations. Furthermore, close cooperation also enables rapid assistance to the Finnish Border Guard or other national authorities in possible crisis situations.

To mark the Finnish Border Guard’s partner membership, the Finnish flag was placed among the flags of the other member states.

Previously on the topic:
The Finnish Border Guard to join the European gendarmerie cooperation (29.10.2025)

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