Latvia and Lithuania to step up fight against migrant smuggling networks

VILNIUS - Lithuania and Latvia will cooperate more closely to strengthen the fight against organized illegal migrant smuggling networks, Lithuania's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

The commitment is part of an agreement signed by the countries' interior ministers. Meeting at the Lithuanian Presidential Palace, Martynas Katelynas and Janis Dombrava focused heavily on combating organized illegal migration.

"The signed bilateral agreement on cross-border cooperation in fighting crime is an important step in further strengthening our common security and cooperation between law enforcement agencies. At the same time, this agreement will contribute to a more effective fight against criminal organized migrant smuggling networks," Katelynas said.

According to him, Lithuania and Latvia share a common view on the region's current security challenges.

"Together we are making maximum efforts to prevent secondary migration, strengthen the protection of the European Union's external borders and ensure the safety of our countries' citizens," the interior minister added.

Earlier this week, it was announced that nine border guards, including two dog handlers with service dogs, would be deployed to Latvia as part of Lithuania's ongoing support mission. The group will replace Lithuanian border officials who have been working in Latvia since July 1. Lithuanian border guards have also provided such assistance to their Latvian counterparts in 2023-2025.

Latvia has recently faced increased pressure from illegal migration from Belarus. This year, 7,855 migrants attempted to enter Latvia, were detained, or were turned away - nearly nine times more than the number of attempts recorded in Lithuania.

Meanwhile, secondary migration from Latvia to Lithuania has increased. Between January and June this year, more than 1,200 foreigners arriving from Latvia were detained in Lithuania, four times more than during the same period last year.

The interior minister had previously raised the possibility of restoring border controls with Latvia, but the presidents of both countries rejected the idea on Wednesday, calling instead for the strengthening of existing control measures.