State police: Drugs in Latvia cost about the same as in other European countries

RIGA - The State Police does not think that drugs in Latvia are more expensive than in other European countries, said State Police spokesman Dairis Anucins, commenting on the recently published Bloomberg Global Vice Index, according to which Latvia has the most expensive basket of alcohol, tobacco products and drugs in Europe.

He explained that the main criterion for the price is availability of drugs in the city, therefore in Riga the price would be lower than in the rural regions.

"Of course, marijuana will be cheaper in the Netherlands because this country has a softer attitude to sale of this drug than Latvia," said Anucins.

According to the State Police the price of amphetamines in the Latvian black market is EUR 10-15 per gram, a pill of extasy costs about EUR 6, marijuana costs about EUR 10-20 per gram, cocaine costs EUR 90-150 per gram, and heroine costs EUR 70-90 per gram.

According to the Bloomberg Global Vice Index, Latvia has the most expensive basket of alcohol, tobacco products and drugs in Europe, and is among the world’s 50 "most affordable places to feed one's vices".

Bloomberg compared the price of a basket of goods — tobacco, alcohol, amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine and opioids — in more than 100 countries of the world relative to the U.S., where basket adds up to almost USD 400, or about a third of the weekly income, and the index value is 100.

Latvia’s index is 239.31, which is the 47th largest index in the world and the largest in Europe.

Estonia and Lithuania ranked 35th with 169.07 points and 36th with 172.13 points respectively.

The most affordable basket has been registered in Luxembourg (37.17), Switzerland (43.08) and the Bahamas (43.96). Meanwhile, among the top 50 most affordable places, the highest indices were registered in Honduras (246.66), Costa Rica (249.96), and Botswana (260.5).

In terms of absolute costs, Latvian residents have to spend USD 235.8 on their vice basked, which is 86.7 percent of the weekly income. In Estonia the price of the vice basket is USD 210.8 or 61.3 percent, and in Lithuania it is USD 178.7 or 62.4 percent of the weekly income.

In terms of absolute costs, the cheapest prices can be found in Congo (USD 19.6), Honduras (USD 43.8). On the other end of the scale, Japan (USD 1,441.5) is the most expensive with New Zealand (USD 984.2) and Australia (USD 980.5) right behind.

Bloomberg experts said that the Bloomberg Vice Index gives insights into the economics behind some people’s bad habits. Law enforcement, for example, is critical in determining drug prices, while alcohol and tobacco prices reflect local tax policies.