Estonia, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Transport

Four of the suspects have been arrested. One of those arrested is a resident of the Latvian town Valka, three residents of the Estonian twin town Valga.

"According to suspicions, at least 12 people altogether participated the group's work but it is possible that the ring of suspects will expand further; also the period of illegal activities needs to be ascertained, according to current information it is around 1.5 years," said South Estonian district prosecutor's office district prosecutor Aro Siinmaa.

The prosecutor says that the detained persons are suspected of import and marketing of illegal tobacco products and alcohol to Estonia. The nucleus of the group was caught right after they had brought 850,000 cigarettes in sales packages with Byelorussian tax stamps from Latvia to Estonia. The tobacco products were transported in two vehicles, an estate car and a van and they were accompanied by a security vehicle. The security vehicle and the estate car with a load of cigarettes were caught in Valga. Two men tried to escape in a van to get rid of their cigarette load but police patrols and criminal police caught them in the Valga county. Potential storage facilities and sellers were searched and in several buildings and vehicles, illegal alcohol and tobacco products we found.