Estonia tightens border controls with Latvia due to migrants

TALLINN - Due to the influx of illegal immigrants, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Department is stepping up controls along the border with Latvia.

Since 41 people were detained last week after illegally entering Estonia across the border with Latvia, checks on people and vehicles arriving from Latvia are being conducted more frequently at the Estonian-Latvian border, according to Estonian public television ETV.

"This is a matter of migration pressure, possibly caused by Belarus; however, when it comes to the countries of origin of these immigrants, we most often detain Somali citizens, followed by nationals from other East African countries, such as Ethiopia, as well as those from more distant countries - India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In fact, there are a great many such countries of origin," Igor Bogdanov, head of the patrol service at the Southeast Division of Estonia's Police and Border Guard Department, told ETV.

At the Valga train station, police also inspect trains arriving from Latvia by walking through the cars and, if necessary, checking passengers’ documents, ETV reports.

"We are monitoring transportation hubs - we are trying to check people and vehicles both on the railways and on the roads. We have also informed hotels and other organizations, such as bus companies, to report anything that raises questions or suspicions," said Bogdanov.

As previously reported, the number of undocumented migrants detected in Estonia has risen sharply in recent months, as more and more migrants are arriving who have illegally crossed the border between Latvia and Belarus and wish to reach the Nordic countries via Estonia.