Riga warehouse: 330 kilograms of cannabis seized; four suspects arrested
Customs service officials in Riga have discovered a large consignment of drugs. Four Latvian citizens have been detained, who are allegedly also linked to violations of sanctions against Russia.
Riga warehouse: 330 kilograms of cannabis seized; four suspects arrested
In June in Riga, at a customs warehouse, a service dog reacted to cardboard boxes containing packages of cannabis. A total of 330 kg of narcotics were found in 24 boxes, according to pmo.ee.
The inspection was carried out by employees of the Customs Administration of the State Revenue Service in collaboration with a canine handler. Upon discovering a suspected crime, the information was handed over to the Tax and Customs Police, which opened an investigation.
Based on operational information, four individuals were detained. They are being held on suspicion of involvement in the illegal transportation of narcotics and failure to comply with international restrictions.
Investigators established that one of the suspects is a Latvian citizen who had previously come to the attention of the police. He, together with others, had long organised the sale of cargo vehicles and trailers to Russia, which is prohibited under European Union regulations.
Nine searches, carried out in Riga and Liepāja, resulted in the seizure of documents and data carriers. Additionally, 20 vehicles were confiscated, which were registered in the names of several companies.
The suspects face criminal liability under two articles of the Criminal Law: for drug smuggling — up to ten years in prison, and for violation of sanctions — up to twelve years of imprisonment.
The investigation is ongoing. Further details are not being disclosed at this time.
Source: Apollo