NHL player reportedly denies involvement in cocaine ring
Philadelphia Flyers forward Jori Lehtera has found his name associated with a drug ring in his home country of Finland, but he is denying any wrongdoing.
According to a report from Finnish news outlet MTV.fi, Lehtera is one of 23 suspects in a case involving two kilos of cocaine. A Google translation of the article that was passed along by David Isaac of the Courier Post says the drugs have a value of around $50,000, and authorities have already arrested seven people. Lehtera is not among them, but he did have a home he owns raided over the summer when he was not there.
Police have also seized more than $750,000 in jewelry and other items connected with the case, and Lehtera has reportedly denied having any involvement.
Lehtera, 30, is entering the final year of his contract with the Flyers and is due to make around $5 million. He had three goals and five assists in 62 games with Philly last season.