The State Police conducted procedural actions within the framework of the criminal proceedings initiated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), carrying out a large-scale operation to detain and dismantle an organized criminal group suspected of violating public procurement procedures related to the acquisition of IT systems for public institutions.
During procedural actions in Riga and the Riga region yesterday, the State Police, together with partners, detained 21 individuals, including public officials.
The criminal proceedings were initiated at the end of last year and classified under the third part of Article 177 of the Criminal Law — large-scale fraud committed by an organized group, as well as under the third part of Article 195 — legalization of criminally obtained funds in large amounts by an organized group.
During the investigation, it was established that an organized group of individuals entered into an illegal secret agreement to determine the winner in public procurements in advance for at least six projects funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERAF), amounting to up to €1.5 million.
The information collected during the investigation indicates that the group members agreed to ensure the transfer of project tasks to pre-selected companies, after which the illegally obtained profits were distributed among the accomplices. There are also suspicions that the contracts were illegally secured with the assistance of public officials.
Yesterday, a total of 67 searches were conducted in Riga and the Riga region — both at the residences of individuals and in companies, resulting in a significant volume of potential evidence being obtained, as well as the detention of 21 individuals.
Significant police forces were involved in the investigative actions — the Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the State Police, units of the Criminal Police of the Riga Regional Department, the Organized Crime and Serious Violent Crime Unit, the Cybercrime Unit, as well as the EPPO and Europol.
The State Police reminds that no individual is considered guilty until their guilt in committing a crime is proven in the manner prescribed by law.
