The most recent case was found near Ludza, where marijuana was grown in a greenhouse, disguised as a tomato greenhouse.
"The amount was rather large. These were not beginners, they knew how to grow," said State Police Latgale region Ludza municipality criminal police chief Valdis Rutkovskis.
65 plants were removed in total. "It was meant to be distributed abroad, and, compared to previous years, it is quite a lot," said Rutkovskis.
Law enforcement has found marijuana plants in apartments, greenhouses, fields. Two farms were found in Daugavpils, one in Rēzekne, others in Krāslava and Ludza municipalities, said State Police Latgale region representative Lāsma Kursīte.
"The largest amount of dried marijuana this year was 8 kilograms, in Daugavpils. In 2019, we found 10 farms, so it is tough to say whether the number will be greater or lesser this year," said Kursīte.
Illegal growing of plants containing narcotic substances can result with a prison sentence of up to two years, forced labor or fines. But large volumes can also lead to imprisonment of up to five years. The case in Ludza might be classified as a large volume, however, investigation still continues.