In connection with the organization and participation in the commission of a criminal offense, four more persons were detained, the State Border Guard said.
On Friday morning, two suspicious cars were seen in Aglona while on duty. After a chase, which included border guards firing their weapons at the vehicles' tires, a Ford Transit minibus was detained near Aglona railway station.
The driver of the car, an Indian citizen, was detained only after a warning shot was fired in the air. A group of illegally immigrants was detained at the scene – 14 Indian, six Syrian and two Bangladeshi citizens.
Organizers and accomplices – one Indian, one Spanish and one Pakistani citizen – were also arrested in connection with the organization of illegal transfer of persons and supporting illegal stays in Latvia. A Mercedes-Benz car, in which the offenders were traveling, was detained on the Preiļi-Līvāni road in cooperation with State Police officers.
During the search, the Indian citizen and the Spanish citizen were also found to possess narcotics – hashish and marijuana.
The arrested border violators, 21 persons, were returned to their country of departure, while the suspected organizers and supporters of the people smuggling operation were arrested.
