On November 5, officials of Division 3 of Bureau 1 of the Criminal Police Department of the Riga Regional State Police in co-operation with the State Police Counter-Terrorism Unit “Omega” detained an organized group of seven people in connection with drug trafficking. In total, drugs worth about 25,000 euros have been seized, as well as cash of about 11,000 euros.
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According to the Public Relations Department of the State Police, it was found out that this group had created hiding places in the entire territory of the city of Riga, where their clients could receive the purchased drugs.
Continuing the investigation, it was found that each person in the group had its own task or division of tasks, namely, identifying buyers and customers, responsibility for financial flows, setting up hiding places available to customers, responsibility for secret apartments where drugs are stored, and illegal receipt and storage of funds.
Several special investigations were carried out and seven people were detained together with the State Police Counter-Terrorism Unit “Omega” – men born in 1972, 1984, 1983, 1978, 2002, as well as women born in 1989 and 1999. Four persons were remanded in custody by the court, while the other three were remanded in custody.
As part of the criminal proceedings, eight searches were carried out in both Riga and Salaspils – including residences, cars, and secret apartments, where law enforcement officers found and seized a total of about 110 grams of carfentanil and 741 Subutex tablets. Around 11,000 euros of cash were also withdrawn. The investigation revealed that these hiding places, in which the so-called customers received their goods, were installed all over the territory of the city of Riga.
Criminal proceedings were initiated in this case pursuant to Section 253.1, Paragraph one of the Criminal Law (on acquisition, storage, sale, as well as sale) of narcotic and psychotropic substances), but it has now been reclassified to Section 253.1, Paragraph three (on sale, storage, sale, if done on a large scale and as part of an organized group).
Continuing the work in the field of combating drug trafficking, in November of this year the criminal police officers of the Riga Regional Office of the State Police also initiated several other criminal proceedings related to the sale of drugs in various districts of Riga. A total of seven more people were detained and 1,400 MDMA tablets and 220 grams of methamphetamine were seized.
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