Alcohol, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Transport
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Tuesday, 29.04.2025, 08:58
Applicable punishments for selling illegal alcohol do not achieve their goals in Latvia
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The State Police have seized more than 60 tons of bootleg alcohol from underground alcohol outlets and suppliers over the past nine months. In most cases, illegal alcohol is brought across Latvia's borders or locally produced.
Kuzis believes that the situation with illegal alcohol has improved after the 2006 tragedy in Preili. For example – the Criminal Law has been amended. According to Kuzis, the fact that the amount of seized bootleg alcohol reduces while prices remain the same means that supply is hampered.
Commenting last week's tragedy in Jelgava, when several people died after consuming bootleg alcohol, Kuzis explained the source of poisoning was a 25-liter jerrycan of methyl alcohol, which had proper labeling, but ended up in illegal trade. A person purchased it and passed on to middlemen. Later on, this poisonous substance was diluted and went on sale. The tankard was found at one of the underground alcohol outlets.
Police officers will now establish the exact moment when the substance went on sale and all persons who were involved in the scheme.
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