Estonian and Georgian nationals detained in Latgale for smuggling illegal migrants

RIGA - Law enforcement officers have detained Estonian and Georgian citizens in Latvia's eastern region, Latgale, for transporting illegal migrants, the State Border Guard Service informed LETA.

Last Saturday, May 16, officers of the State Police stopped an Opel car driven by a Georgian national on a road in Skrudaliena Parish, while on Monday, May 18, a Citroen car driven by an Estonian national was pulled over in Ezernieki Parish.

In both cases, an inspection of the vehicles revealed the presence of five persons of Asian origin without valid travel documents, visas or residence permits. The migrants had illegally crossed into Latvia from Belarus.

Criminal proceedings were initiated against the migrant smugglers for knowingly providing foreigners with the opportunity to stay illegally in Latvia. The Georgian national is also suspected of illegally moving a person across the state border.

The ten migrants were returned to Belarus.

This year, the State Border Guard has already initiated 40 criminal proceedings against 32 people for smuggling illegal migrants and providing them with the opportunity to stay illegally in Latvia, while last year, 122 criminal proceedings were initiated against 88 individuals for such activities.

So far this year, border guards have prevented attempts by 3,373 people to illegally enter Latvia from Belarus.

In 2025, 12,046 people were prevented from crossing the Belarusian-Latvian border illegally, while 50 were admitted on humanitarian grounds.

The government has extended the reinforced surveillance regime along Latvia's border with Belarus until June 30, 2026.

The reinforced border security regime is in force in Ludza and the parishes of Ludza municipality, Kraslava and the parishes of Kraslava municipality, Augsdaugava municipality, Daugavpils, and Kaunata in Rezekne municipality.

Latvian authorities consider attempts by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko's regime to push migrants across Latvian, Lithuanian, and Polish borders to be methods of hybrid warfare targeting these countries.