At the end of October this year, law enforcement officers conducted operational activities in the Riga neighborhood of Purvciems in connection with the illegal circulation of tobacco products. As a result of these actions, a man born in 1969 was arrested. During sanctioned searches, 768,200 cigarettes without excise stamps of the Republic of Latvia, 940 euros, and a car were seized. A criminal process has been initiated regarding the incident, reports the State Police.
Employees of the Riga Northern Division of the Riga Regional Department of the State Police conducted a series of operational and procedural activities, as a result of which a man born in 1969 was arrested in Purvciems on October 27 of this year for selling illegally produced cigarettes.
Law enforcement officers carried out four searches, during which 768,200 cigarettes without excise stamps of the Republic of Latvia, 940 euros, and a car were discovered and seized. The arrested individual had previously come to the attention of the police for similar activities.
Initially, a criminal process was initiated under Article 221.6 of the Criminal Law — for the sale for selfish purposes of illegally manufactured tobacco products, tobacco substitutes, herbal smoking products, electronic smoking devices or liquids for their refilling, unmarked with excise stamps of the Republic of Latvia (except in cases provided for by regulatory enactments), or smokeless tobacco products, the release of which to the market is prohibited, in small quantities. For such a crime, the punishment is imprisonment for up to one year, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, community service, or a monetary fine.
Additionally, the criminal process was requalified under part three of Article 221 of the Criminal Law — for the illegal manufacture, storage, movement, or sale of tobacco products, tobacco substitutes, herbal smoking products, electronic smoking devices, or liquids for their refilling in large quantities. For such a crime, the punishment is imprisonment for up to five years, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, community service, or a monetary fine with or without confiscation of property.
The State Police reminds that no person is considered guilty until their guilt in committing a criminal offense is proven in the manner prescribed by law.
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