HELSINKI (AP) — A Norwegian court has sentenced a former police officer to 21 years in prison for severe corruption and being an accomplice in one of Norway’s biggest drug-smuggling cases.
The Oslo District Court on Monday found Eirik Jensen guilty of helping in the import of 13.9 tonnes of hashish, gross corruption and several violations of Norway’s weapons law.
Jensen was given the harshest possible sentence under the country’s laws for such crimes with judge Kim Heger saying the 60-year-old ex-policeman had deliberately contributed to “the biggest drug case in Norway’s legal history.”
After over 35 years of service, Jensen was arrested and suspended from duty in February 2014 in connection with an investigation into the drug network.
Defense lawyer John Christian Elden told reporters that Jensen had pleaded not guilty and plans to appeal the verdict.