After tunnels were discovered on the border with Belarus in Lithuania and Latvia, the Baltic countries are seeking ways to counter illegal migration and new security threats. This is reported by LRT, writes UNN.
Details
Latvian border guards discovered a tunnel through which 15 migrants illegally entered the country. They were all detained and returned to Belarus. Similar tunnels had previously been found in Lithuania as well.
According to LRT sources, some underground passages are professionally constructed and reinforced. Lithuanian officials fear that they could be used not only for illegal migration or smuggling, but also for the infiltration of armed groups.
New threats to the Baltic borders
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergas said that the countries of the region must jointly counter those organizing the illegal transportation of people.
We must do everything to make Latvia an unattractive option. We will also help if this happens in Lithuania — we have already discussed this — or in Estonia or Poland. This problem is spreading. They simply migrate to wherever it is easier to do so. We want to tell those organizing this — we will put an end to it
Latvia has launched Operation "Werewolf", involving military personnel, border guards, and police. At the same time, Defense Minister Raivis Melnis said that the permanent deployment of military personnel along the border is not an effective solution.
Lining soldiers up along the border is not an effective solution for ensuring border security or stopping illegal migration. In this case, soldiers would have to be stationed every 50–60 meters
Lithuania is already using vibration sensors to detect underground activity, but their effectiveness along the entire length of the border with Belarus remains a question.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkavičius said that the authorities are seeking not only technological solutions to counter the new form of illegal migration and possible smuggling.
Here we have a new, invented form of illegal migration and, obviously, other potentially dangerous actions for the state. Let us not rule out the problem of smuggling. The state is looking for solutions — not only technological solutions