Police in the Finnish capital are investigating a case involving the seizure of around 600 kilograms of bear meat from a cold storage facility managed by a Helsinki-based firm.
The case is being investigated as a natural resources offence. The animal products were seized in June.
Some of the parcels of meat, bones and other parts of the animals were found to be labelled with expiration dates several years old, or had unclear markings about their origin.
According to police, investigators learned about the matter with help from an international source.
Police interviewed several suspects during the preliminary investigation, the agency said.
Police suspect that the company had been selling bear meat and parts of the animals for several years. Investigators found that at least some of the animal products had been imported to Finland from another EU country.
According to detective Harri Saaristola, bears are one of several species protected by the EU Habitats Directive.
"The brown bear is one of Cites' most strictly regulated species," he said, referring to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).
"Because of this, selling bear [products] always requires a permit," Saaristola explained.