Pubdate: Tue, 02 Feb 1999 Source: ITAR-TASS (Russia) Copyright: 1999 ITAR-TASS. MODEL AGENCY CAUGHT AT DRUG TRAFFICKING IN LATVIA RIGA. RIGA, February 2 (Itar-Tass) -- A largest in the national history consignment of cocaine was seized here on Saturday, when leaders of the Republican Model Association were caught red-handed during a regular customs examination at the airport. Western experts are now arriving in Riga to find out how it became possible to safely pass the customs checkpoints in their countries. Chief of the Latvian bureau for prevention of drug trafficking Vilnis Kipenis on Monday told reporters that President of the Model Association Daira Silava, 35, and manager of the association Roland Priverts, 36, arrived in the Latvian capital from Caracas. They took a flight via New York, Paris and Zurich. Silava had 1,860 grams in plastic bags hidden in coffee packs fastened to her back and chest. Priverts had 0,9 grams of cocaine in his luggage. Silava had a multiple entry visa to Venezuela. The police are now making inquiries as to where, why, and how often she travelled. The cost of the seized cocaine is estimated at 200 thousand dollars. One gram of the drug costs in Latvia about 100 dollars. Its consumers belong to the most wealthy circles. According to the officers of the Bureau for prevention of drug trafficking, the whole consignment was meant to be distributed in the republic. On Thursday, US specialists will arrive in Riga to find out how it became possible for the drug-traffickers to pass the examination at the New York airport. The Latvian Model Association has been training girls for different competitions. Now the office of the association is closed and the partners have canceled contracts with it. On Saturday, when the Latvian participants in the "Miss Millennium" competition were wondering in one of the Riga clubs where their president was, Silava was subject to interrogation. The Association had also made arrangements for "Miss Latvia" competition, and joined efforts with the French "Idole" firm to hold a competition for teenagers. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry