News
The article is more than 3 years old

2 men remanded for Järvenpää murder, police suspect links to drug trade

The suspects have lengthy criminal records, including ties to the Cannonball biker gang.

Itä-Uudenmaan käräjäoikeus Aviapolis Vantaa
The men were formally placed under arrest on Thursday at Eastern Uusimaa District Court, four days after they were taken into custody. Image: Pekka Tynell / YLE
  • Yle News

Two men were remanded in custody on Thursday at the Eastern Uusimaa District Court on suspicion of murder.

Police suspect that the two men, born in 1992, shot a 27-year-old man to death in Järvenpää, just north of Helsinki about two weeks ago.

The victim was killed in an apartment building courtyard on Sauvakatu in Järvenpää's Pajala district around 2 pm on May 26.

The suspects fled the scene but were apprehended on Sunday. Police say they receive many tips from the public, which helped them locate the suspects.

The brazen daylight attack is being investigated as case of premeditated murder. According to Detective Chief Inspector Tero Tyynelä, the victim and the suspects knew each other.

Police suspect that the motive was related to drug trafficking.

Long rap sheets

Yle has learned that the suspects have extensive rap sheets, including ties to the outlawed Cannonball motorcycle gang.

One of the men was sentenced nine months in prison in 2015 for aggravated theft, theft, attempted aggravated theft and providing false personal information.

The other suspect was sentenced earlier this year to five years' probation for money laundering, related to the proceeds of criminal activities.

The case was linked to the activities of Cannonball MC, which is designated as an organised crime group by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Ten other convictions were handed down as part of the same case.

Tyynelä declined to comment on the murder suspects' possible links to organised crime. He said that police had not so far found any direct links between this killing and organised crime.

The Eastern Uusimaa Police Department is investigating the case in partnership with the NBI and other police departments.