Two people were arrested for the illegal circulation of 547,920 cigarettes in the Riga region

On March 20 of this year, the law enforcement officers of the Riga Region Administration of the State Police detained a group of persons who are connected to the illegal circulation of cigarettes in the territory of the Riga Region. As part of the criminal proceedings, a total of 547,920 cigarettes with and without Belarusian excise stamps were found and confiscated. A criminal proceeding has been initiated in connection with the incident.

On March 20, the employees of the 3rd Office of the Criminal Police Department of the State Police Riga Region Administration, Department 1, in cooperation with the employees of the Jūrmala Precinct of the State Police Riga Region Administration, within the framework of the criminal process qualified according to the third part of Article 221 of the Criminal Law, conducted five searches in Riga and Jurmala, in connection with illegal circulation of tobacco products (cigarettes) in the Riga region.

At the moment of committing a criminal offense, two persons were detained in Jurmala – a woman born in 1982 and a man born in 1975, who stored cigarettes without tax excise stamps of the Republic of Latvia in the territory of the Riga region for the purpose of sale.

During the emergency search of one car and five real estates, 547,920 cigarettes of different brands (Premier, Minsk, Korona, Manchester, Winston, Marlboro, NZ, Pall Mall, Fest, Queen, Dove, Credo) were found and seized with the tax of the Republic of Belarus with and without excise stamps.

After carrying out urgent procedural actions, both persons were placed in a place of temporary detention. At the moment, the status of suspects has been applied to both persons and security measures have been applied, which are not related to deprivation of liberty.

Cigarettes were supposed to be sold in the Riga region. The detained woman had previously come under the police’s attention for committing similar crimes. If the confiscated cigarettes had ended up on the black market, their value would be more than 65,000 euros. Thus, property damage to the Latvian state in the amount of approximately 75,000 euros has been prevented.

During the search, 3,900 euros in cash and 0.6048 grams of methamphetamine were found and seized from one person.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated for the incident according to the third part of Article 221 of the Criminal Law, that is, for the illegal storage, transfer or sale of tobacco products, if it is committed in a large amount. For such a crime, the law provides for deprivation of liberty for a period of up to five years or temporary deprivation of liberty, or probation supervision, or community service, or a fine, with or without confiscation of property.

The State Police reminds that no person is considered guilty until his guilt in committing a criminal offense is proven in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law.

If your action is information about persons and facts related to the illegal circulation of tobacco products and alcohol, we invite you to inform the State Police by writing to the e-mail: [email protected] or by sending a submission electronically to the portal Latvija.gov.lv using e -address, or confirmed with an electronic signature, by sending to e-mail: [email protected], or by submitting to the nearest State Police station! Anonymity is guaranteed.