RIGA 's Follwing an undercover investigation by the Latvijas Avizenewspaper, police have arrested several people involved in offering underageteenagers for sex.
The daily says on Feb. 26 the Latvian Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau(ONAP) in Riga held a group of young people acting as go-betweens in an onlineprostitution racket.
The procurers offered sex with a 16-year-old girl for 350 lats (498 euros),while a 14 year-old girl was offered for 500 lats (716 euros). Sex with a boywas pricier still at 700 lats (1,000 euros).
Advertisements for the sex services were placed on the homepage of aRussian-language internet portal. The advertisement included the names and telephonenumbers of the go-betweens.
A journalist from Latvijas Avize decided to check if the offers were genuineand called Milena - one of the names mentioned in the advertisement. Milenaexplained in detail what services are offered and the prices of the services.
The journalist was offered a 16-year-old girl from Jelgava county. Accordingto Milena, he would be allowed to do anything he wanted with the girl short ofkilling her.
When asked if any 12-14 year-old-girls were avilable, the woman replied inthe negative but said that further negotation may be able to provide asolution.
When the journalist decided to opt for a 16 year-old girl, a meeting at asupermarket in Riga was agreed. The girl was brought by Milena and a man, mostprobably, the mediator.
Before the meeting the journalist went to national police, where he was instructedin detail what to do. In all eight police officers participated in theoperation which arrested the suspects at the scene.
A criminal procedure was initiated for involvement of minors intoprostitution. The punishment provided by the criminal law for these offenses is8-12 years.
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