In January 2026, the Internal Security Bureau forwarded a criminal case to the Vidzeme Prosecutor’s Office for the initiation of criminal prosecution against an official of the State Border Guard for the illegal sale and storage of electronic smoking devices not marked with excise duty stamps of the Republic of Latvia.
During the pre-trial investigation, the Internal Security Bureau obtained evidence that the State Border Guard official repeatedly unlawfully sold electronic smoking devices that were not marked with Latvian excise duty stamps. In addition, more than 100 electronic smoking devices were unlawfully stored at the official’s place of residence with the intent to distribute them. It should be noted that the criminal offences were not related to the performance of official duties within the State Border Guard.
Within the framework of the criminal proceedings, security measures not involving deprivation of liberty have been applied to the State Border Guard official.
The criminal case has been transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office for the initiation of criminal prosecution under Section 221.6 of the Criminal Law - illegal sale of electronic smoking devices not marked with excise duty stamps of the Republic of Latvia - and under Section 221, Paragraph one of the Criminal Law - illegal storage of electronic smoking devices committed on a significant scale.
The Internal Security Bureau reminds that no person shall be considered guilty of committing a criminal offence until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Law.
The Internal Security Bureau is a public administration authority under the direct supervision of the Minister of the Interior. Its functions include detecting, investigating, and preventing criminal offences committed by employees of institutions subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior (except the State Security Service) and by employees of the Prison Administration, as well as investigating criminal offences involving violence committed in the performance of official duties by employees of the Port Police and municipal police.