Police in international operation detain one of best-known organized crime leaders in Latvia

RIGA - The Latvian police in cooperation with foreign colleagues, including the Spanish National Police, have arrested one of the best-known Latvian organized crime leaders and several members of his gang, the State Police informed LETA.

The person was detained on September 10 as part of the State Police's extensive international cooperation and exchange of operational information with the European Police (Europol) and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust).

He is suspected of running a criminal network, including international drug trafficking and large-scale money laundering. He was known for his lavish lifestyle and frequent trips abroad, although he had no legitimate source of income, the police said.

To avoid apprehension, he travelled daily in a specially equipped vehicle with three armed bodyguards, demonstrating the high security options available to him, as law enforcement officials discovered.

At the same time, during a coordinated joint operation of detentions and searches in Riga, the police, in cooperation with the anti-terrorism unit Omega, as well as with the involvement of the State Revenue Service's cynologist unit, detained nine other members of the same organized criminal group.

Six other persons were arrested in Loreto de Mar and Valencia, Spain, with the support of the Spanish National Police. Three of the suspects were detained in Spain on the basis of European Arrest Warrants issued by Latvia.

The searches led to the seizure of more than EUR 110,000 in cash, two firearms, 95 rounds of ammunition, four airsoft hand grenades, two bulletproof vests, 13 kilograms of cannabis, forged identity documents, four vehicles, cryptocurrency wallets, luxury watches, decisions have been made to arrest ten real estate properties with a total value of around EUR 500,000.

This was one of the priority investigations of the National Police as well as Europol. Close cooperation between all authorities has provided the necessary information to identify the activities of this organized criminal group, the State Police stressed.

During the joint operation in Spain, three Latvian officials took part in the activities, while a Europol expert was also present in Latvia.

Europol also provided technical and forensic support, helping to obtain and analyze evidence that will be of key importance for further investigations. Judicial cooperation between Latvia and Spain was coordinated by Eurojust.