Last week, authorities in Latgale apprehended eight individuals, citizens of Latvia and Lithuania, involved in a cigarette smuggling operation using meteorological balloons. This operation was conducted by the Crime Investigation Department of the National Police of Latvia on February 20, who acted on operational information regarding the arrival of these meteorological devices. The arrests were made in a forest mass in the Maltas pagasts of Rēzeknes novads, highlighting the ongoing efforts to tackle organized crime in the region.

Among the arrested were six Lithuanian citizens born between 1992 and 2003, alongside two Latvians born in 1981 and 1992. Notably, three of the Lithuanians have been detained as a precautionary measure pending further investigation. The operation revealed a significant haul of 120,000 illegal cigarettes marked with Belarusian excise stamps, indicating a serious violation of customs laws and raising concerns about larger networks of smuggling across the Baltic region.

The case underscores the challenges police face in combating organized crime and cigarette smuggling in Latvia, particularly with inventive methods like using meteorological balloons for transport. As investigations continue, authorities are likely to explore the broader implications of this smuggling operation, potentially linking it to wider criminal activities and cross-border crime syndicates operating within the region.