Lithuanian citizen detained in Riga after large illegal cigarette shipment discovered

Latvian tax and customs police reported on Friday that a Lithuanian citizen has been detained after authorities uncovered a large shipment of illegal cigarettes in a Riga warehouse, according to LRT.

During an inspection at a warehouse in the Teika district of the capital at the end of June, officials seized 1.5 million cigarettes—some with excise stamps, others without. They also found vehicles, tracking equipment, and other items suggesting an intent to smuggle large quantities of illegal cigarettes.

The haul included “Winston” and “Minsk” cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps, as well as “Omega” cigarettes without any stamps. A trailer with a semi-trailer and two cargo vans, all registered in Poland, were also confiscated. Authorities additionally discovered tracking devices, GPS signal blockers, Lithuanian vehicle registration plates, and various goods used to conceal the illegal cigarette shipments.

A criminal case has been launched under articles related to the unlawful possession, transport, or sale of large quantities of tobacco products. The detained Lithuanian citizen has been remanded in custody as a precautionary measure.