Two individuals have been detained in Latvia on suspicion of illegal drug trafficking — they acted as couriers delivering drugs for sale in Finland. As part of international cooperation, the police of Latvia, Finland, and Estonia, with the support of Eurojust, created a joint investigation team, during which an organized crime group of at least 17 individuals was identified in Finland, including four Latvian citizens.
An organized crime group is suspected of importing several hundred kilograms of narcotic substances into Finland for sale. It is estimated that their retail value is around 40 million euros. The investigation into the criminal proceedings is ongoing.
In the spring of this year, employees of the 2nd Department of the Organized Crime and Serious Crimes Division of the State Police of Latvia recorded suspicious activities related to possible drug trafficking, leading to the initiation of a criminal investigation under part three of Article 253.1 and part three of Article 190.1 of the Criminal Law — for the transportation of narcotic/psychotropic substances for the purpose of sale, sale as part of an organized group, as well as the movement of such substances across the state border of the Republic of Latvia by an organized group.
At the same time, within the framework of international cooperation, Latvian police, together with colleagues from Finland and Estonia, established a possible connection between the cases identified in Latvia and information held by foreign colleagues. In the summer of this year, with the support of Eurojust, a decision was made to combine efforts and create a joint investigation team for effective information exchange and crime resolution.
Within this group, an extensive organized crime network of at least 17 individuals was identified in Finland, which since 2023 has been involved in importing significant quantities of various types of drugs into the country, such as alpha-PVP, cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA, ecstasy, and others. According to estimates from the Finnish police, the total amount of drugs distributed in the country could have reached several hundred kilograms, with a street value of approximately 40 million euros. Meanwhile, investigations continue to clarify the routes and methods of delivering such volumes of drugs to Finland. Regarding the drugs that arrived from Latvia, the investigation is aware of four batches of alpha-PVP delivered by Latvian couriers, with a total weight of 35 kg.
Based on information obtained by the State Police of Latvia before the joint investigation team began its work, as well as facts available to partner countries, six searches were conducted in Latvia on October 7 of this year. As a result, two members of the organized group — couriers: a Latvian citizen born in 1986 and an Estonian citizen born in 1985 — were detained. An European Arrest Warrant was issued for both, and they were handed over to Finland for further procedural actions. It should be noted that during the procedural actions in Latvia, drugs were not found at the addresses of the detainees or on their persons; however, the investigation continues to establish their possible involvement in drug trafficking.
As part of the work of the joint investigation team, a connection between four Latvian citizens and this crime was established: one was detained on October 7 in Latvia, the second in June of this year in Poland, while the other two are currently wanted internationally.
The State Police reminds that no person is considered guilty until their guilt in committing a crime is proven in accordance with the law.
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