Secret tunnels under Lithuania's border used to smuggle migrants toward the UK

In 2026, Lithuanian and Latvian border services have identified twelve and two secret tunnels respectively, all excavated beneath the Belarus-Lithuania frontier. The passages, some extending over 130 feet, are used by smuggling networks to transport migrants toward the United Kingdom and other Western European destinations. Video captured by media shows eighteen individuals emerging from a 50-foot shaft into a dense forest near Kabeliai.

Lithuania’s Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas said the tunnels are an unlawful alternative for illegal entry, and Latvia’s border guard captain Vladimirs Sersts noted migrants freely traversing the fence on the Belarusian side. Margarita Seselgyte of Vilnius University described the tunnels as a hybrid attack aimed at undermining societal confidence and weakening support for Ukraine. Despite intercepting nearly 12,000 crossing attempts this year, authorities continue to dismantle tunnels as soon as they are found.