Riga police seize 105 kg of narcotics and detain 89 people

Between January 1 and September 24, the State Police of Latvia's Riga Region Criminal Police Administration seized over 105 kilograms of narcotics. The operations resulted in the detention of 89 individuals, some of whom were members of organized criminal groups.

Authorities seized assets including cash, vehicles, valuables, and real estate valued at more than 724,000 euros. The confiscated substances primarily included amphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and dangerous synthetic substances.

Andrejs Maslovs, head of the 4th Bureau's 1st Division, noted a rise in buyer anonymity due to the popularity of messaging platforms like Telegram, which has shifted drug sales into the digital environment. Notable seizures included 18 kg of amphetamine in June and four kilograms of protonitazene—a synthetic heroin approximately 50 times stronger than traditional heroin—in August.