On 20–21 November 2025, the State Revenue Service Tax and Customs Police Department organised an international training “Tackling Excise Crime: Priorities, Evidence Threshold and International Cooperation” in Riga. The event was held with the financial support of the Internal Security Fund project “Tackling Excise Crime in the Baltic Region”.
The aim of the training was to strengthen cooperation among the law enforcement authorities in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland, and to improve the investigation of excise crimes in the Baltic Sea region. Guest speakers from Europol, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the Police Central Investigation Bureau of the Republic of Poland and the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Latvia shared their expertise and analysed current trends, challenges and best practices.
As emphasised by Aigars Prusaks, Director of the State Revenue Service Tax and Customs Police Department, such training is a vital tool for improving the quality of investigations and fostering cooperation among law enforcement authorities, promoting coordinated action and a more effective actions against the shadow economy in the Baltic Sea region.
Particular attention during the training was devoted to evidence threshold requirements in the investigation process and to the setting of priorities for law enforcement agencies. Participants engaged in workshops, exchanging their national experience and discussing the importance of cooperation, efficient use of resources and coordination mechanisms.
The closing session featured outcomes of the workshops and recommendations for further enhancement of cooperation.
More information about the project is available on the State Revenue Service website, details about the Internal Security Fund can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
