Ex-head of Lithuania's drug department suspected in EUR 250,000 illicit enrichment case

  • 2022-06-14
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS - Evelina Pridotkiene, the former interim director of Lithuania's Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department (NTAKD), and her husband are suspects in a case of illicit enrichment worth 250,000 euros, the country's Special Investigation Service (STT) has confirmed it to BNS on Tuesday.

Last week, the investigation led to the arrest of 15 suspects and more than 50 searches in Vilnius.

Gediminas Pridotkas, former director of Lithuania's National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, was arrested last Friday. The other suspects in this case have been placed under softer measures of suppression, including as written undertakings not to leave the country and various prohibitions, including bans to contact specific persons.

"Speaking of the suspect who served as acting director of the Drugs, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Department, the investigation is not related to her direct duties. The authorities have been informed about her procedural status in the case in accordance with the procedure established by law," the STT told BNS.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office says the allegations are related to illicit enrichment worth at least 250,000 euros in connection with EU-funded public procurement.