Emergence of ethnic criminal groups in Latvia possible in near future - police

RIGA - Latvia does not currently have any distinct criminal groups organized by ethnicity, but the geopolitical situation and the experience of other countries show that the emergence of such groups is also possible in Latvia in the near future, Agita Ozola, chief inspector at the Criminal Intelligence Division of the State Police, told a parliamentary inquiry committee on Monday.

The criminal groups identified so far in Latvia typically include people of different ethnic backgrounds. In recent years, such groups have been involved in various criminal activities. "Drugs, excise goods and other areas of crime that can bring quick profits are increasingly areas where such groups are operating internationally," the police representatives stressed.

"Given the geopolitical situation and the hybrid war of Russia and Belarus against the EU, and given the rapid increase in the number of African and Asian immigrants coming to Latvia in recent years, supposedly to study, and given the experience of the EU's developed countries and Scandinavia, ethnic criminal groups can be expected to form in Latvia as well in the near future," Ozola said.

Experience of other countries shows that immigrant Muslim, Hindu and other ethnic criminal groups are difficult to combat due to differences in language, culture and customs, which is why special attention should be paid to these groups not only at the law enforcement level but also at the government and political level, Ozola stressed.

According to information gathered by the State Police, a total of 476 third-country nationals have been identified as suspects in 2024, 2025 and until March 18 this year.

In the European Union (EU), the term 'third country' refers to all countries that are neither EU members nor countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).

The suspects include 173 Russian nationals, 143 Ukrainian nationals and 41 Moldovan nationals.

The others are citizens of Belarus, India, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Crimes committed by third-country nationals in Latvia include drunk-driving, theft and petty fraud, fraud, money laundering, illegal drug trafficking, failure to comply with a restraining order, threats to commit bodily harm and others.

The Saeima established the parliamentary committee of inquiry on November 27 last year on the initiative of 34 MPs in order to find answers to a number of immigration-related questions, including how immigration procedures are implemented and what measures are taken to prevent illegal immigration, what problems exist with the legal framework for asylum seekers, how many persons disappear from the notice of state authorities after being granted residence permits, what risks there are with temporary residence permits and their misuse, and whether Latvia can secure exemptions from EU migration law.