Estonia intensifies border inspections in Valga amid rising migrant arrivals from Latvia

In response to a recent spike in unauthorized crossings, the Police and Border Guard Board has heightened controls at Valga, the Estonian gateway to Latvia. Over the last seven days, 41 individuals who entered illegally via Latvia were apprehended, prompting checks of both road traffic and rail passengers. Igor Bogdanov, head of the patrol service at the southeastern police station, noted that most detainees are Somali nationals, followed by migrants from Ethiopia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and suggested possible Belarusian involvement.

The operation also involves coordination with accommodation providers and bus companies to flag suspicious cases. Since July, Estonia has detained close to 200 foreign nationals, with 72 returned to Latvia, straining the Tallinn Administrative Court and child-protection services in Rae municipality. The government has extended border-guard rotations and sought Finnish assistance for patrols and returns.