Escalating migrant smuggling and deaths at Latvia's Belarus border amid Russian involvement

Border authorities in Latvia observe a marked increase in migrants attempting illegal entry from Belarus, using methods such as climbing a 4-metre metal fence, crossing the Daugava River and navigating newly discovered underground tunnels. Lieutenant Colonel Tomass Skrimblis and General Guntis Pujāts characterize the smuggling rings as a well-funded mafia with coordination from abroad, implicating both Belarusian and Russian actors.

NGOs report that the migrant profile has shifted toward healthy men aged 20-40, many seeking onward travel to Germany, while humanitarian admissions have fallen sharply. The government has bolstered border patrols with additional troops, police, drones and civilian reporting under Operation "Vilkatis". Isolated incidents include two unidentified bodies buried near the border and a handful of deaths recorded over recent years, underscoring the lethal risks of the route.