Europol Deputy Executive Director Visits State Police of Latvia to Discuss Hybrid Threats and Organised Crime

On 28 October, Europol Deputy Executive Director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe and Europol operational coordinator David Ellero visited the State Police of Latvia. Europol is the European Union's law enforcement cooperation agency. The visit focused on the security situation in Latvia and Europe and on strengthening cooperation in combating crime.

The Europol delegation was received by State Police chief General Armands Ruks, together with representatives of criminal police units, and by State Border Guard chief General Guntis Pujāts.

Topics of the meeting

The officials discussed the current security situation in Latvia and across Europe. Particular attention was paid to hybrid threats, the fight against organised crime and cross-border security challenges.

They also reviewed existing cooperation with Europol and ways to strengthen it further, naming information exchange, operational cooperation and investigations as key areas.

Border visit

The two-day visit was jointly organised by the State Police and the State Border Guard. Europol representatives, together with the heads of both institutions, visited the Latvia-Belarus border and State Border Guard units. The aim was to see first-hand the challenges created by the instrumentalisation of migration and the measures taken to protect the European Union's border.

Significance of cooperation

The State Police describes the visit as confirmation of the close cooperation between Latvian law enforcement and Europol. It also reflects a shared commitment to strengthening security in response to existing and evolving threats, and to continuing international cooperation in preventing and combating crime.