Over the last six months, the number of people leaving Latvia to look for jobs abroad has increased significantly. The number of cases where people fail to find a job abroad is also increasing, says the Foreign Ministry, reports news agency LETA. Latvian embassies and missions abroad are having to deal with increasing numbers of people who were cheated by employment agencies or otherwise failed in their individual attempts to find jobs. These people then turn to the embassies seeking help to return home. The countries from which the complaints about fraudulent employment agencies are received the most include Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Norway. The Foreign Ministry says that the state budget does not offer financial assistance to people who are stranded abroad with no money; the embassies can only help these persons assistance in contacting their family or friends who are then able to find solutions to their financial troubles.
Officers from the Organized Crime Enforcement Department (OCED) have detained four criminal group members on drug trafficking, having busted the group's operations, reports news agency LETA. State Police Public Relations Department senior inspector Linda Neimane-Zobena said that on Aug. 4, at Tvaika street in Riga, OCED officers detained three men, born in 1962, 1966 and 1970, on suspicion of drug trafficking. All three detainees had previously been suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade, as well as had involvement in theft and robberies. Carrying out search procedures at the detainees' homes, police found and confiscated 400 grams of methamphetamine, street value around 4,000 lats (5,700 euros). The fourth man of the group was detained on Aug. 6, when he was caught in the act, selling drugs at Jukuma Vaciesa street. The man had a previous criminal record for burglary. Officers found and confiscated from the man 250 piperazine pills, worth around 1,000 lats on the black market. Not a pleasant bunch, all four dealers are now sitting in custody.
Starting from the new school year, September 1, Riga Municipal Police officers will begin patrolling around 129 schools in Riga, reports news agency LETA. The officers will ensure public order around the schools during classroom hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Head of Riga Municipal Police Janis Gedusevs explained that in cases where two schools are located close to each other, one officer will be in charge of securing order at both. "Police officers will have to make sure that on their way to school, children do not become victims of pickpockets or mobile phone thieves; they will also be responsible in restricting the students from smoking during breaks," said Gedusevs. The police chief said that currently there were not enough uniformed officers for ensuring patrols, however, the necessary funding will be allocated with the next budget amendments. "After a few bullies are caught, the situation will become calmer, as information about police patrols will spread," he believes. It is under the direction of Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs (Harmony Center) to assign the police to maintain patrols by all schools in Riga.
