The State Border Guard Service has handed over to the prosecutor’s office of South Latgale a criminal case against 25 Ukrainian citizens who were involved in the production of illegal cigarettes in Ludza in an organized group, LSM.lv reports.
The State Police and the State Border Guard detained a total of 32 persons and discovered an illegal cigarette production facility in an ambitious joint operation in Ludza and Rīga on 10 December last year.
Criminal proceedings were carried out simultaneously in several locations. The State Police carried out 26 authorised searches in Riga, identifying warehouses with finished products and detained seven persons – six Latvian citizens and one Russian citizen. The State Border Guard carried out eight searches in Ludza, Rēzekne and Daugavpils, and 25 Ukrainians were detained at the Ludza factory, where they were involved in the production of illegal Marlboro, Prince, Winston and LM brands of cigarettes.
All detainees were remanded in custody.
On 24 March, the State Border Guard completed the investigation of a criminal case against 25 Ukrainian citizens for illegal manufacture, storage, movement and sale of tobacco products, as well as for illegal use of a trademark, other distinctive mark and design, and sent it to the Prosecutor’s Office of South Latgale for prosecution.
The Latgale Regional Police Directorate will carry out the pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings against the other members of the organised group.
