Image Credit, Berthold Bronisz
In a significant breakthrough for international law enforcement, one of Latvia’s most notorious criminals was arrested on September 10, 2024, following a complex intelligence-led operation supported by Europol and Eurojust. The arrest marks a key victory in an ongoing investigation aimed at dismantling a sophisticated organized crime group responsible for large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering operations across Europe.
The Latvian State Police, working closely with Europol, arrested the suspect in Riga, Latvia, while simultaneously apprehending ten other members of the same criminal organization. In coordinated actions, six more suspects were arrested in Spain, in the cities of Lloret de Mar and Valencia, with the assistance of the Spanish National Police. These arrests highlight the success of international cooperation in tackling cross-border criminal activity.
The primary suspect, who had been evading authorities for years, is a major figure in Latvia’s criminal underworld. Known for his opulent lifestyle and constant international travel, he managed to avoid capture by utilizing a specially modified van and traveling with three armed bodyguards. His high-security precautions are a testament to his significance within the criminal network.
The criminal group is suspected of being involved in serious offenses, particularly drug trafficking and money laundering on an industrial scale. Authorities seized a significant amount of evidence during the raids, including over EUR 110,000 in cash, two firearms, 95 rounds of ammunition, four airsoft hand grenades, two bulletproof vests, 13 kilos of marijuana, ten properties, counterfeit identification documents, four vehicles, cryptocurrency wallets, and luxury watches. These seizures provide further evidence of the group’s far-reaching operations and wealth.
In Spain, three of the suspects were arrested based on European Arrest Warrants issued by Latvian authorities. All arrested individuals are currently in custody, awaiting charges related to their involvement in the criminal network’s activities. Further investigations are ongoing as law enforcement continues its efforts to completely dismantle the organization.
This operation represents a significant step in a priority case for Europol, which had pooled all available intelligence to assist Latvian authorities in identifying and mapping the crime group’s activities. On the day of the arrests, three Latvian investigators were deployed to Spain, and a Europol expert was embedded with local teams in Latvia to ensure the operations were synchronized. Europol also provided advanced forensic and technical capabilities to aid in collecting and analyzing critical evidence, which will be instrumental in prosecuting the suspects.
The operation was coordinated on a judicial level by Eurojust, facilitating cooperation between Latvia and Spain. The successful outcome demonstrates the importance of international collaboration in tackling organized crime networks that operate across borders, and it serves as a clear warning to other criminal organizations in the region.
As investigations continue, law enforcement agencies remain committed to fully dismantling this group, bringing its members to justice, and curbing the broader threat posed by transnational organized crime in Europe.
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