Latvian gangster among Europe's most wanted

Major criminals are awarded playing cards as part of the "Game Over" initiative which is designed to flush out fugitives and bring them to justice. 

43-year-old Latvian Romāns Ivančuks is awarded the designation Queen of Hearts – which will no doubt delight him – as a major drug trafficker.

"Ivančuks in 2019 was involved in unauthorised acquisition, storage and forwarding of narcotic substances (cocaine) through several countries for the purpose of disposal and unauthorised disposal. [He] is wanted for prosecution. Maximum penalty possible - 15 years imprisonment," says Europol.

"Drug traffickers are instrumental in organised crime groups and they have little regard for the law. The Queen represents these key operatives and is a major player in the criminal network. Much of the violence associated with serious and organised crime is related to the trade in drugs and addiction has devastating consequences for individuals and their communities. Help police find these drug traffickers and the network will cease to function. Your information could make all the difference," adds Europol. 

Anyone with information about Ivančuks' current whereabouts can inform the police in confidence on +371 67829535 or online at this dedicated page.

As part of the 2022 campaign, murals will be unveiled around the EU to increase awareness of the importance of viewing the website to find these fugitives. The first mural will be unveiled in Brussels on 28 September to mark the inauguration of the campaign. The mural can be seen at Rue d'Arlon 104, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. A second mural will be revealed in October in Rīga, Latvia.

Europol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency. Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, it supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime.