Three cases of transportation of illegal migrants / day were found on Easter holidays

On April 18, the border guards on the Ezernieki-Dagda motorway noticed a suspicious « Mazda » car and began to persecute it, but the driver of the car ignored the border guards’ demand to stop and began fleeing, LETA informed the State Border Guard.

After a short time, border guards, in cooperation with the State Police in Kraslava County Svariņi Parish, stopped a car driven by a Ukrainian citizen.

Seven people of Asian origin have been found in the car without valid travel documents, valid visas and residence permits.

On April 20, when checking the information provided by border guards, the State Police in Kraslava County in Dagda Parish stopped a Volkswagen Caddy car on a motorway driven by a Latvian citizen.

There were nine people of asiatic origin without valid travel documents, as well as valid visas and residence permits.

Similarly, on April 21, the border guard outside the service in Kraslava municipality in the Asun parish of Kraslava noticed a suspicious minibus registered abroad. State Police officials suspended the Ford minibus, led by a Ukrainian citizen, by checking the information provided by the border guard. In this case too, 13 persons of Asiatic origin were found in the minibus cabin without valid visas and residence permits.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against carriers.

29 persons were returned to the border with Belarus.

This year, 1494 people have already been discouraged from the illegal crossing of the Latvian-Belarus border. For humane reasons, eight people have been welcomed in Latvia.

As reported, from March 19, Latvian border points with Russia and Belarus « Paternieki », « Grebneva » and « Terehova » may only cross cars. The government made such a decision after requesting it by the State Border Guard.

The Ministry of the Interior (MoI) explained that the partial closure of the border points is required due to the current geopolitical situation in connection with Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Last year, 5,388 people were discouraged from the unlawful crossing of the Latvian-Belarus border, but for humane reasons, 26 people were admitted to the country.

The government extended the increased border guard regime in the Belarusian border area until 30 June 2025 last year. The increased border guard regime in the border area is defined by the increased illegal migrant flow created by Belarus. The government had previously decided to set this regime in the Belarusian border area by the end of 2024.

The enhanced control regime is set in Ludza and Ludza districts in the parishes, Kraslava and the county parishes, Augsdaugava county, Daugavpils and Rezekne district in Kaunata parish.