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2/14/98: BORDER GUARDS STOP TRUCK WITH ABOVE-NORMAL
RADIATION Border guards at the Latvian-Lithuanian border in
Grenctale stopped an Estonian truck carrying cat food from Lithuania after
sensitive radiation detection equipment monitored radiation emissions 14
microroentgens above normal.[1] Although early reports stated that
the cat food was emitting the radiation, a subsequent investigation revealed
that the emissions came from the truck itself. Latvian border control
permitted the truck to continue to Estonia.[2]
[1] "Cat Food With Abnormal Radiation
Level Detained in Latvia," Baltic News Service, 16 February 1998. [2] "Detained Cat Food Had No Abnormal
Radiation Level," Baltic News Service, 16 February 1998.{Entered 3/10/98
djw}
1/27/98: NEW RADIATION DETECTION EQUIPMENT MONITORS LATVIAN BORDER A spokesman from the Latvian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional
Development stated that new radiation detection equipment has been installed
at the Grenctale-Salociai checkpoint on the Latvian-Lithuanian border.
The Latvian government installed the device in response to the increasing
threat of nuclear materials smuggling from Lithuania. The device
is capable of screening a motor vehicle for radiation emissions within
a few minutes. Since initial testing ten days ago, the device has
already detected several shipments emitting excessive radiation.
Another such device is scheduled to be installed on the Latvian-Estonian
border at Ainazi. The Finnish government supplied the devices to
the Latvians at a cost of nearly DM300,000 ($176,500).
[Radio Vilnius Network, 27 January 1998; in "Radiation Monitors
Installed on Lithuania-Latvia Border," FBIS-SOV-98-027.] {entered 2/6/98
djw}
5/16/97: LATVIA IMPROVES STRATEGIC GOODS CONTROL Girts Krumins of the Latvian Development Agency announced that the Strategic
Importance Exports and Imports Control Committee has established tighter
control on transit of strategic goods. Up to this point, only weapons,
ammunition, and explosives were controlled. The new system now controls
exports of dual-use chemicals and goods, such as powerful computers and
communications equipment. A special export license, called the SNEIKK,
will have to be obtained when the system goes into effect on 14 June 1997.
The list of controlled goods complies with that of the European Union.
["Latvia To Control Strategic Goods Transit," Baltic
News Service, 5/16/97.] {entered 7/11/97 djw} 11/15/96: RUSSIA AND LATVIA SIGN JOINT BORDER AGREEMENTS Andrey Nikolayev, commander of the Russian Border Guards, and Gundars Dabolins,
chief of the Latvian Border Guards, signed two cooperative agreements in
Riga. The protocols are designed to strengthen cooperation in border protection
and to fight organized crime, illegal migration, and the smuggling of drugs,
weapons, ammunition and nuclear materials.
[Saulius Girnius, "Latvian, Russian Border Guards Reach
Agreement," OMRI Daily Digest, 18 November 1996.] {entered 2/10/97 djw}
5/28/96: US DONATES EQUIPMENT FOR LATVIAN CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT The US government donated a minibus equipped with X-ray and radiation detection
systems to the Latvian Customs Department for use in detecting radioactive
contraband.
["Latvian Customs Department Received Donation From U.S.
Embassy," Baltic News Service Daily Report, 28 May 1996.]
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