The Latvian government has approved Andrejs Grišins, currently the head of the Criminal Police, as Head of the Tax and Customs Police (NMP), effective from the 1st of January, 2026.
Grišins has served as Deputy Chief of the State Police and Head of the Main Criminal Police Department for more than 12 years. Prior to that, he held various positions within the State Police of Latvia Riga Regional Administration, including acting head, as well as posts within the Criminal Police Department of the Riga City Main Police Directorate.
He began his police career in 1991. Grišins has received several state awards, including the Order of Viesturs, Third Class, and a Cabinet of Ministers Certificate of Recognition.
Grišins holds a professional master’s degree in law from the Latvian Police Academy. Previously, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in law and a lawyer’s qualification from the University of Latvia.
Six candidates applied for the position of NMP head.
Five advanced to the second round of the competition, and two candidates progressed to the third round after receiving the highest scores in the oral assessment stage. Grišins received the highest overall evaluation at the conclusion of the selection process.
The monthly salary for the head of the Tax and Customs Police before taxes is set at 4,400 euros to 5,900 euros.
Speaking at today’s government meeting about his motivation for applying, Grišins said that after 13 years as Deputy Chief of the State Police and head of the Criminal Police, he felt the time had come for a change. He acknowledged that the new position would be challenging but expressed confidence in his ability to contribute his professional and life experience to combating crime.
He also emphasized his readiness to integrate the new institution into Latvia’s national security system.
Grišins noted that the competencies of the Tax and Customs Police partly overlap with those of the State Police and the State Border Guard of Latvia, making close cooperation essential. He also stressed the importance of cooperation with the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau and the Internal Security Bureau.
According to Grišins, future challenges for the new institution will include the development of investigative capacities, which he believes creates opportunities for cooperation with the State Police College Investigator Training Centre. He also underlined the need to strengthen capabilities and capacity in regional units, noting that pressure on Latvia’s borders will continue to increase.
The Tax and Customs Police will be established as a direct administration authority on 1 January 2026. On the 3rd of December, 2025, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Tax and Customs Police Law stipulating that, from the 1st of January, 2026, the Tax and Customs Police will fall under the supervision of the Minister of the Interior.
Earlier, in March this year, the Ministry of Finance of Latvia submitted a draft Cabinet order proposing to transfer Aigars Prusaks, head of the Tax and Customs Police Board of the State Revenue Service (VID), to the position of NMP head.
However, this plan was not implemented.
VID Director General Baiba Šmite-Roķe previously announced that, following a service investigation related to a large heroin shipment that passed through Latvia undetected, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against several officials. These included two customs officers for inadequate performance of duties and seven officials of the Tax and Customs Police Board for inaction. Latvian Television later reported that Prusaks might be among those facing disciplinary action.
At the end of May this year, the VID Reform Oversight Council agreed that the position of Head of the Tax and Customs Police should be filled through an open competition.
Under the Tax and Customs Police Law, a new direct administration authority — the Tax and Customs Police — will be established on the 1st of January, 2026. It will assume the functions and tasks previously carried out by the Tax and Customs Police Board of the State Revenue Service.
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