As part of the criminal proceedings, the police seized 69 marijuana plants and 54 newly planted plants during a search of an uninhabited private property turned into a greenhouse in the Dobele municipality.
Overall, the police seized 2045 grams of undried marijuana.
In the course of further investigation, the police liquidated another marijuana farm in Ķegums, which was specially arranged in a private house and an adjacent greenhouse.
The police seized 16 marijuana plants in the private house and 5 marijuana plants in the greenhouse during the search.
The police also expropriated several packages containing dried, brown-green substance of plant origin.
The police detained two men born in 1973 and 1994, respectively, in connection with the crime. At the time of the arrest, the policemen also seized 2,7317 grams of dried marijuana from the man born in 1994, who was a drug-user.
All expropriated substances have been sent to be examined. Both men are subject to non-custodial measures. Both mens' connection with other criminal offences will be reviewed during further investigation.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated for unauthorized sowing and growing of drug-containing plants in large areas or by an organized group. This offence may be punished by up to five years of imprisonment or by a temporary deprivation of liberty, or by forced labor, or by a fine, either including the confiscation of property or without confiscation.
Likewise, criminal proceedings have been initiated for the “unauthorized production, acquisition, possession, transport or transfer of narcotic drugs without the intention of selling them”, punishable by up to three years of imprisonment or by a temporary deprivation of liberty, or by forced labor, or by a fine, or a supervised probation of up to three years.
The cultivation of hemp has a long history in Latvia and hemp butter remains a popular spread - but uses a non psychoactive strain of the plant.
