Last Wednesday, the State Police, Vidzeme Regional Administration, conducted mass checks of vehicles and individuals as part of cross-border patrols in the Valka region on the A3 highway. During the raid, 300 passenger cars, 11 cargo vehicles, and nine buses were checked, totaling 487 individuals. Seventeen administrative violations were identified during the checks, mainly in the field of road traffic. One criminal case was also initiated for possession of narcotic substances.
On February 18, 2026, the State Police, Vidzeme Regional Administration, conducted cross-border patrols with mass checks of vehicles and individuals on the 118th kilometer of the A3 highway in the Valka region. The aim of the event was to enhance road safety, control the circulation of narcotic and excise goods, as well as ensure compliance with migration requirements.
During the raid, 300 passenger cars, 11 cargo vehicles, and nine buses were checked. A total of 487 individuals were inspected, including 108 bus passengers. The checks involved 11 State Police officers, six Traffic Safety Directorate officers, six State Border Guard officials, two Estonian colleagues, and three service dogs.
During the inspection, 17 administrative violations were identified, and one criminal case was initiated in the field of narcotic substances. The criminal case was opened against one driver for possession of approximately two grams of a plant-based substance, presumably marijuana. Additionally, in three cases, illegal use and possession of small amounts of narcotic substances were recorded, and one driver was found to be operating a vehicle presumably under the influence of narcotic substances.
In the field of road traffic, most violations were related to the technical condition of vehicles — in seven cases, insufficient tire tread depth was identified. There were also instances of mobile phone use while driving, unfastened seat belts, and the absence of a driver's license or proper vehicle registration. The technical inspection of four vehicles was annulled for one month.
The raid also revealed one violation in the field of migration and one case of illegal storage of excise goods — nine cigarettes without the excise stamp of the Republic of Latvia were discovered.
Furthermore, during the checks, eight citizens of third countries were identified. One person did not fill out the entry information into Latvia in the VANIS system and was instructed to comply with this requirement.
The State Police emphasizes that such cross-border checks are conducted regularly to strengthen security in the region and develop inter-agency cooperation.
