The State Police in the Kuldiga region stopped a vehicle with a large batch of illegal cigarettes, finding out that their transportation occurred during a first date, while the woman was unaware of the man's illegal actions, reported LETA by Madara Šeršņova, a senior specialist in the Public Relations Department of the State Police.
The investigation into the criminal case has been completed, and the materials of the case against the man have been sent to the prosecutor's office to initiate criminal proceedings.
The "Audi" car was stopped on February 10 on the Kabile–Kuldiga road. During the investigation, it was established that this was the couple's first date after a long correspondence on social media, and the woman, unaware of the man's plans to transport illegal cigarettes, agreed to meet him. The man asked the woman to drive, as he did not have a driver's license.
The man requested a route through the Jūrmala highway, which seemed unusual to the woman considering the usual way to Liepaja through Saldus, but he explained it by the lower traffic intensity, likely hoping to avoid the police.
However, on the Kabile–Kuldiga road, law enforcement stopped the vehicle and discovered 10,000 "Winstone blue" cigarettes without excise stamps and 20,000 "Malboro platinum" cigarettes also without excise stamps, placed in three cardboard boxes in the trunk.
The State Revenue Service calculated the material damage caused to the state — it amounts to nearly 6,000 euros. The man had previously come to the attention of the police for similar crimes.
According to the Criminal Law, such a crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, community service, or a fine, with or without confiscation of property. The court will determine the size of the punishment.
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