Man arrested in Riga with 650,000 contraband cigarettes and two firearms
State Police stopped a cargo van at Katlakalns garage cooperative and found cigarettes, two firearms and 404 cartridges.
Van with cigarettes and firearms stopped at Katlakalns
State Police detained a man born in 1969 in Riga on 3 September, whose vehicle and residence contained 650,000 cigarettes without excise marks, two firearms and 404 cartridges, police informed the LETA news agency. The discovery is also reported by Diena.
Initially, police officers were working at Katlakalns garage cooperative on a criminal case involving drug trafficking. There they noticed a man who was moving between cars, apparently checking their location, and carefully examining vehicle registration plates—including unmarked police vehicles.
The man then entered the garage cooperative, got into a cargo van with a trailer and drove away. Due to the suspicious behaviour, law enforcement stopped the vehicle.
Upon stopping the van, the man extended his hands without waiting for police instructions—as if ready to be handcuffed. When asked about the contents of the cargo compartment, he replied that he did not know what was there. During the inspection, police officers discovered three pallets of cigarettes without excise marks, as well as 65 boxes of "Marlboro" cigarettes.
A legal firearm "PM", two full magazines, a folding knife and a telescopic baton were found and seized from the detainee.
A search at addresses connected to the man revealed another firearm—a "Glock" pistol—together with 404 cartridges and cash: 18,580 euros and 6,000 US dollars, which police consider to be proceeds of crime.
Source: Diena