Police detain drug group and seize 36 kilograms hidden in forests

Latvian police seized about 36 kilograms of drugs in Riga, Jūrmala and the surrounding region on October 21, with most of the drugs concealed in barrels buried in forests. Six people were detained on suspicion of drug trafficking, LSM reported, while two other people linked to the scheme were already in prison.

Three of the six people tried to flee during their arrest but were caught. The detained group included four Lithuanian citizens and two Latvian citizens. Two of the Lithuanian citizens were wanted in connection with crimes in Lithuania; one was also the subject of an international search warrant for a drug-related offence.

One of the detained Latvian citizens had been wanted in Latvia since August 28 for sexual acts involving a person under 16 and for theft. After his arrest, he was taken to serve his sentence. The other Latvian citizen had completed a sentence for a similar drug-related crime in the spring.

Two other Latvian citizens connected to the case were already in prison for other offences. Police said they used unauthorised communication devices to coordinate illegal activity.

Police conducted 10 searches: six at homes, three in vehicles and one at a prison. They also searched forested areas. Officers seized 17.201 kilograms of amphetamine, 15.7485 kilograms of marijuana, 2.48 kilograms of cocaine, 630 grams of hashish, 41 Subotex tablets, 30 Quetiapine Accord tablets, seven clonazepam tablets, four MDMA tablets and 34 devices containing THC.

Police said this was the first time such a large quantity of drugs had been found hidden in a forest in the Riga region. They said dealers usually create smaller hiding places for customers to collect drugs.