Six detained in Riga area over drug ring that hid narcotics in barrels buried in forests

Latvia's State Police detained six people on 21 October in Riga, Jūrmala and the Riga region on suspicion of illegal drug trafficking as an organised group. Searches turned up about 36 kilograms of various narcotics, most of them hidden in barrels buried in forests. Police say two more people linked to the scheme committed their offences while already in prison.

Course of the investigation

The investigation was opened on 14 October by the 1st Division of the 4th Bureau of the Criminal Police Department of the State Police Riga Regional Directorate. It worked with the police Cybercrime Combating Department, the Investigation Support Department, the counter-terrorism unit OMEGA and the Technical Support Management Division. In total, eight people connected to the crime were identified.

During the detentions, three people tried to flee but were caught. Two Latvian citizens who were already serving a sentence for another crime used unauthorised means of communication to coordinate the illegal activity. Police carried out ten searches: six at residences, three in vehicles and one in a prison. Forest areas were also combed.

Seized substances

Officers found 17.201 kg of amphetamine, 15.7485 kg of marijuana, 2.48 kg of cocaine and 630 grams of hashish. Also seized were 41 Suboxone-type tablets labelled "Subotex", 30 "Quetiapine Accord" tablets, seven clonazepam tablets, four MDMA tablets and 34 devices containing THC. Police also confiscated 17 mobile phones, a tablet computer and forged identity documents. Investigators say this is the first time such a large quantity of drugs hidden in a forest has been found in the Riga region; dealers usually make smaller caches that clients use as pick-up points.

Those detained

The suspects were born between 1971 and 2003. Those detained include four Lithuanian and two Latvian citizens. Two Lithuanians were wanted over offences committed in Lithuania, and one of them was subject to an international warrant for drug trafficking. One of the Latvian citizens had been wanted since 28 August over sexual acts involving a person under 16 and over theft, and was handed over to serve a sentence already imposed. The other had served a sentence in spring for a similar drug offence.

The criminal case continues under sections 253.1 (part 3), 309 (part 2) and 262 (part 1.1) of the Criminal Law. Police are still establishing all circumstances and looking for other possible participants. On 23 October a court ordered pre-trial detention for four Lithuanian citizens and one Latvian citizen. Police note that no one is considered guilty until guilt is proven in accordance with the law.