FOTO: Atturētie migranti automašīnā

On Sunday, July 28, a Latvian non-citizen was detained for transporting persons who illegally crossed the state border.

The border guards noticed a Volkswagen Crafter vehicle in the Krāslava region and decided to stop it by turning on the beacon and horn, but the driver of the vehicle disobeyed the legal demands of the border guards to stop the car and accelerated. The border guards started chasing the car, firing a total of three warning shots in the air. After driving two kilometers, the car stopped. It was established that it was driven by a non-citizen of Latvia, who transported eight persons without valid travel documents, as well as valid visas and residence permits.

In addition, it was found that the driver of the car was driving the car when the right to drive vehicles was not obtained in accordance with the established procedure (the right has been revoked), for which the State Police officials initiated an administrative violation process.

A criminal proceeding has been initiated against a non-citizen of Latvia according to the third part of Article 285.1 of the Criminal Law for knowingly providing a person with the opportunity to stay illegally in the Republic of Latvia, if such opportunity has been provided to more than five persons.

For the mentioned actions, persons can be punished with deprivation of liberty for a period of two to eight years.

Eight persons were prevented from illegally crossing the state border in accordance with Cabinet Order No. 184 of March 12, 2024 "On the announcement of an enhanced operating regime of the border protection system".

Prepared by

Jolanta Babiško