Riga police arrested three men on April 23 for possession of approximately 25,000 lats (35,500 euros) worth of narcotics. The men were caught with 562 grams of cocaine and a small assortment of other drugs including amphetamines and marijuana. They were also found to be in possession of 132 rounds of various types of ammunition and a gun silencer, implying their possible involvement in violent crimes as well. If convicted, the men face eight to 15 years in prison. Two of the suspects have been remanded in custody, and the third has been put under police supervision.
An April 23 survey has found that Cosmos, Brain Storm, and Intars Busulis are Latvia's biggest show business stars in terms of publicity and royalties. The study found that there are approximately 20 bands in Latvia that earn more than one thousand lats (1,400 euros) per show. The authors of the study said that they found out in the process that there is no darker economic industry in Latvia than show business, as the majority of cash flow is between individuals, bypassing companies and tax payments.
The Belgian royal family came to Riga on April 23 for a three day visit. While attending a dinner with King Albert II and Queen Paola, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga discussed the cooperation that the two countries have enjoyed over the years, particularly with regard to the education and training that Latvians have been able to receive in Belgium. She also brought up the close cultural ties and the rich cultural diversity of the two countries, mentioning that both Brussels and Riga are renowned as centers art nouveau architecture. Albert II is 74 years old and has been king since 1993.
On April 24 the government approved 750,000 lats (one million euros) worth of funding for a badly needed upgrade of the jail system. The condition of jails has received heavy criticism as of late due to their dilapidated condition. The funds are primarily allocated for upgrading perimeter security. The Ministry of Justice noted that the poor state of security systems increases the risk of jailbreaks and facilitates the smuggling of alcohol, drugs, money and mobile phones into jails. The Riga central prison 's from which four convicts escaped last August 's will be the first to be upgraded.
The likelihood of incumbent President Vaira Vike-Freiberga running in the 2009 European Parliament election after her term in the present office expires on July 7 is very high, according to a source of the Russian language newspaper Telegraph. Her strong support in Latvia and high profile abroad would make it relatively easy for the president to get voted in and to secure support from other leaders. Vike-Freiberga would have to join a political party in order to run for the post, something that she has been reluctant to do in the past.
