State Police seek charges against 16 people, including businessman Laizāns, in illegal cigarette case
At the end of September, Latvia's State Police sent prosecutors a case on large-scale illegal cigarette production and sales. It covers 16 people, among them Rēzekne businessman Elmārs Laizāns, whom police consider the possible leader of the group.
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Latvia's State Police sent a criminal case on large-scale illegal cigarette production and distribution to the Riga Regional Court District Prosecutor's Office at the end of September, asking it to begin criminal prosecution. The case targets 16 people.
One of them, Rēzekne businessman Elmārs Laizāns, is considered by investigators to be the possible leader of the group.
What happens next
Once a case is submitted for prosecution, prosecutors review the materials and decide whether to bring charges and send the case to court. The source does not say when a decision might be made. It also gives no specific charges and does not name the other people involved.
The source likewise provides no details on the volume of cigarettes, the production sites or the estimated damage.
