In the Kraslava region over the weekend, two alleged transporters of illegal migrants — citizens of Latvia and Estonia — were detained. In the first case, four individuals who had illegally crossed the border from Belarus were found in the cabin and trunk of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the Latvian driver was behind the wheel while heavily intoxicated — the test showed 2.67 promille.
According to the State Border Guard, both incidents occurred in the Kraslava region.
On Friday, August 28, military personnel from the National Armed Forces, together with Finnish border guards who are assisting the Latvian State Border Guard, stopped a Ford vehicle in the Skaista parish.
The driver was a citizen of Latvia. During the inspection of the vehicle, four individuals were found in the passenger compartment and trunk, who did not have valid travel documents, visas, or residence permits.
As established by the border guards, these individuals had previously crossed the Belarusian-Latvian state border illegally.
However, this was not the only violation. A breathalyzer test on the driver showed 2.67 promille.
An Estonian Citizen Came for Five Migrants
The second incident occurred on Sunday, August 30.
The border guards received operational information about five individuals who had illegally crossed the state border, as well as about a possible transporter who was heading for them.
In the Robežnieki parish, the border guards, together with representatives of the National Armed Forces, stopped a Volvo vehicle. The driver was a citizen of Estonia.
During the search in the vicinity, a dog handler from the State Border Guard with a service dog discovered five individuals without valid documents, visas, and residence permits in the Skaista parish. According to the border guards, they had also previously crossed the border between Belarus and Latvia illegally.
Thus, in the two incidents, there are a total of nine illegal migrants.
Criminal Cases Initiated
Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the alleged transporters for the illegal transportation of individuals who crossed the state border.
Separate criminal proceedings have been initiated against the citizen of Latvia for driving a vehicle while intoxicated, as the alcohol concentration significantly exceeded the threshold of 1.5 promille established by criminal legislation.
The provision of the Criminal Law regarding the attempt to commit a crime is applied to the citizen of Estonia: according to the investigation, the crime was not completed due to reasons beyond his control.
The citizen of Latvia has been taken into custody.
The nine foreigners were not allowed to continue their illegal crossing of the state border in accordance with the Law on the State Border Guard.
Up to 10 Years for Transporting Migrants
The State Border Guard reminds that since August 11, an operation called "VILKATIS" has been conducted to strengthen the security of Latvia's eastern border. Its goal is to counter the hybrid threat associated with Belarus's use of illegal migration, as well as to reduce the number of illegal crossings of the eastern border.
Since the beginning of this year, the State Border Guard has already initiated 135 criminal proceedings for the illegal transportation of people and/or aiding their illegal stay in Latvia. Proceedings are underway against 105 individuals.
The agency emphasizes that serious penalties are provided for such crimes. In one of the cases reviewed, the offender was sentenced to four years and six months of imprisonment, in another — to six years and one month.
For the illegal transportation of people across the state border and other crimes related to illegal migration, the legislation provides for imprisonment from two to ten years. Additionally, the court may impose confiscation of property and probation supervision for up to three years.
The two detentions over one weekend show that attempts to organize further transportation of illegal migrants after crossing the Belarusian-Latvian border continue. This time, the alleged transporters were stopped before the nine individuals could continue their journey through Latvia, with one of the drivers simultaneously becoming a subject of a criminal case due to 2.67 promille of alcohol.
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