“Last week we tested technology borrowed from the Poles that allows detecting attempts to dig – it works, it found that one tunnel that was announced, so we will acquire that technology and the border guards will definitely be able to use it,” M. Katelynas said to LNK news on Saturday.
He indicated that recently “dozens of attempts” to dig tunnels have been detected, but “only a few” were dug and all tunnels were destroyed.
“Yes, the problem exists, because initially attempts were made, when there was no fence (…), to pass straight through, then a fence appeared – attempts were made to climb over it, then other measures appeared, well, now attempts are made from below. For every restriction, an attempt is made to find a bypass,” said the Minister of the Interior.
As BNS wrote, this week the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reported that in Lazdijai district, near the village of Pertakas, an unfinished underground tunnel was detected based on ground surface vibrations. After procedural actions, it was filled in.
In June, a similar operation was announced when border guards and police searched for migrants in Varėna district. At that time, a tunnel was also found at the border, which, as suspected, was used by two groups of about a dozen migrants each to enter Lithuania.
Another group of migrants was deterred at the end of July in the south of the country when a tunnel being dug was discovered.
VSAT head Rustam Liubajev then told the “15min” portal that many such tunnels have been detected recently, but cases where migrants manage to enter Lithuania unnoticed are rare.
Moreover, M. Katelynas noted to LNK news that the situation of illegal secondary migration from Latvia is improving, as the neighboring country is putting a lot of effort and funds into protecting its external border.
“Currently the numbers are decreasing and I think sooner or later we will handle this problem, and the borders of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia with Belarus will be protected,” said the minister.
As BNS wrote, this year in six months, compared to the same period last year, the so-called secondary migration flow from Latvia increased from just over 300 to more than 1,400 foreigners.
According to VSAT data, over 8,000 migrants tried to enter Latvia this year, were detained and returned to Belarus or deterred on the Belarusian side. This is several times more than the attempts to enter Lithuania from Belarus.
Since the beginning of the migration crisis caused by Belarus in 2021, Lithuanian border guards have prevented more than 25,600 foreigners from illegally entering the country.
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