During a search in the Ķengarags and Iļģuciems neighborhoods of Riga, the State Police seized 1.2 million cigarettes without Latvian excise stamps from a group of smugglers, the police said September 19th.

The suspects had planned to sell the cigarettes in Finland, police believe.

When police arrived at a guarded private home in Ķengarags, they caught the offenders red-handed loading illegal tobacco products from a semi-trailer truck and carrying them to a nearby house.

At the scene, police officers arrested three members of the criminal group – men born in 1972, 1978, and 1965. In line with standard practice they were not named. One of the detainees had previously been convicted of illegal trafficking in excise goods, and another – for other types of crimes.

In all, four searches were conducted – at the aforementioned property in Ķengarags, which the crime kingpin rented for criminal activities; at his residence in Iļģuciems and in several vehicles.

Law enforcement officers found around 1,200,200 cigarettes. A vehicle, which was likely used in the crime, was also confiscated. Law enforcement officers also seized a global positioning system and three walkie-talkies that members of the criminal group used to communicate with each other.

The investigation revealed that the individuals had already planned a route to deliver the illegal cigarettes to Finland for sale. The origin of the illegal cigarettes is currently being investigated.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated for the incident for illegal storage, movement or sale of tobacco products, if committed on a large scale and if committed by an organized group (Article 221, Part 3 of the Criminal Law). Such a crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of up to five years, but the suspects are not being held in custody.

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