Drugs worth 400 mln euros seized from clandestine lab in Latvia

RIGA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — Law enforcement in Latvia has seized a haul of drugs worth at least 400 million euros (437.8 million U.S. dollars) from a clandestine narcotics lab in Latvia, the State Police said Thursday.
Eight members of the criminal group, aged 24 to 35, were detained during the police operation last week in the northeastern Aluksne municipality. They include five Ukrainian citizens, two Polish citizens and one Armenian citizen.
The largest such operation in the country was conducted simultaneously in several cities and towns across Latvia, involving seven raids.
Police seized more than one ton of the synthetic drug clephedrone and over 38,000 liters of various chemical liquids identified as precursors to synthetic drugs. In addition, laboratory equipment, five motor vehicles, cellphones, SIM cards, routers, a laptop computer, and other evidence were confiscated.
A forensic examination is ongoing to determine the precise weight and content of the seized substances.
“This is the largest drug lab ever uncovered in Latvia,” State Police Chief Armands Ruks said at a news conference. Authorities did not comment on whether the criminal group had any connections with Latvian citizens.
However, the drugs were reportedly intended for distribution outside Latvia — likely to Scandinavian countries, as well as Russia and Belarus, according to the police. ■