Latvian police seize 3.8 million illegal cigarettes, arrest multiple suspects

Latvian law‑enforcement agencies have dismantled a large‑scale illegal cigarette operation. The Tax and Customs Police uncovered a warehouse in the Jugla district of Riga, seizing more than 3.8 million contraband cigarettes – including Marlboro, Marlboro Gold, Winston and Winston Blue brands – some bearing Belarusian excise marks and others without any marks. The investigation revealed that the cigarettes were repackaged in cardboard boxes and distributed via courier services to Latvia and several Scandinavian countries. Finnish customs confirmed the presence of the marked packs in suspicious shipments, prompting a joint investigation.

In a separate case, the State Police of the Latgale region stopped an Audi A6 near Preiļi, finding 31,980 cigarettes with Belarusian excise marks. The driver, a man born in 1970, was arrested for illegal tobacco trade, money‑laundering activities, and driving without a licence. Both cases have been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for criminal proceedings.