Ziepniekkalns: 847,800 illegal cigarettes and €133,000 confiscated from repeat offender
Riga police have detained a 1966-born illegal cigarette trader in Ziepniekkalns. Six of his cars were found to contain nearly 848,000 cigarettes and over €133,000 in cash.
Illegal cigarette trader caught in Ziepniekkalns with nearly 848,000 packets
Law enforcement officers from the State Police Riga Regional Office's service apprehended a man in the Ziepniekkalns microdistrict at the end of August, who had stored 847,800 cigarettes without Latvian Republic excise marks in six vehicles, as well as €133,430 in cash that was likely obtained through criminal means, reports Google News LV — Crime (lv).
The operation began on 24 August, when law enforcement officers observed a man moving boxes from one vehicle to another in a territory overseen by the Pārdaugava Department. Officers stopped the man and asked him to show the contents of the boxes. The man admitted that the boxes contained tobacco products without Latvian Republic excise tax marks.
The detainee, born in 1966, had previously been convicted for similar criminal offences. Investigators carried out eight searches of vehicles belonging to him. The confiscated stockpile contained cigarettes of several brands — "Marlboro", "Manchester", "Dove", "Minsk", "Davidoff", "Smart" and "Oris" — some with excise marks from the Republic of Belarus, some without any marks.
Information in police possession indicates that the man sold illegal cigarettes to private individuals in Riga.
A criminal case has been opened in accordance with Article 221, Part Three of the Criminal Law — for storage, transportation or sale of tobacco products on a large scale. The law provides for such an offence a deprivation of liberty for up to five years or short-term deprivation of liberty, probation supervision, community service or a monetary fine, with or without confiscation of property.
The seized cigarettes have been placed in storage with the State Asset Management Agency and will be destroyed following completion of procedural steps. Arrest has been imposed on the cash as criminally obtained. During the investigation, a decision will also be made regarding attachment of the vehicles.
The State Police reminds that no person is considered guilty unless their guilt has been proven in the manner established by law.
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)