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HomeEXTRABUSINESSLatvian Police Dismantle Massive Illegal Cigarette Factory With 300m Seizure, 32 Suspects...

Latvian Police Dismantle Massive Illegal Cigarette Factory With 300m Seizure, 32 Suspects Nabbed

Last week, the Latvian State Police (Valsts policija), in cooperation with the Latvian State Border Guard (Valsts robeĹľsardze), carried out a large-scale operation to dismantle a criminal network involved in illegal tobacco production.

Officers discovered a massive illegal cigarette manufacturing site, which was fully equipped with production machinery and raw materials.

The operation led to the detention of 32 people and the seizure of nearly 300 million cigarettes and approximately 47 tonnes of shredded tobacco leaves. If these cigarettes had entered the Latvian market, the estimated financial loss to the state would have exceeded €75 million.

Searches were conducted simultaneously at multiple locations. The State Police carried out 26 searches in Riga, discovering warehouses containing cigarettes and detaining seven individuals, including 6 Latvian and 1 Russian national.

Meanwhile, the State Border Guard carried out eight searches in Ludza, RÄ“zekne and Daugavpils, detaining 25 Ukrainian nationals at the Ludza factory, where counterfeit cigarettes were being manufactured under well-known brand names.

The investigation was supported by Europol, which provided analytical support to the authorities involved. Europol also organised operational meetings and provided remote support during the searches. The Lithuanian Customs Criminal Service (MuitinÄ—s kriminalinÄ— tarnyba) also supported this investigation.

Latvian authorities have initiated several criminal cases related to illegal tobacco production and money laundering as a follow-up to the operation. Before the raids, several individuals linked to the network’s criminal activities and involved in laundering illicit funds in Latvia were detained.

The extensive operation by Latvian authorities to dismantle the illegal cigarette factory has been documented in a comprehensive video.

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