Border guards from both neighboring countries are cooperating, but Latvia admits that human resources are not always sufficient.
At the end of July, two groups of migrants were apprehended during the day about 40 kilometers from the Latvian-Lithuanian border. Lithuanian police officers stopped a nine-seater bus and found 23 migrants. Some of them fled. All this happened in a settlement on the highway connecting Vilnius and Daugavpils. The migrants, identified as border crossers from Latvia, were found and detained.
In July, a total of 162 migrants were apprehended in Lithuania after crossing the EU external border into Latvia. This is more than in the first half of this year as a whole.
"July was intense and had numerous attempts. Objectively, it is also understandable - if 100 violators pass, we catch 80. Someone might get away while the others are being pursued," said Guntis Pujāts, Head of the State Border Guard.
The large-scale apprehension of two groups in Lithuania is considered a successful example of cooperation by the chiefs of the border guards of both countries. Latvian border guards suspected that the cars in question were heading towards Lithuania, which they reported to their colleagues in the neighboring country. The groups were spotted by police officers, but when the migrants fled, border guards took over the search and apprehension.
Lithuania believes that the problem needs to be tackled at the root, so it has sent border guards to help Latvia guard the border. Patrols also continue on roadsides near the border.
"Of course, we are introducing additional measures at the internal borders, but the focus must be on the external border. In addition, the laws of the European Union strictly define what we should and should not do," said Rustamas Liubajevas, Chief of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service.
Not only Lithuanian border guards but also Estonian border guards are helping Latvia.
"We are currently facing certain challenges in Latvia - the sufficiency of resources to cover all necessary directions," explained Pujāts.
However, the number of border crossers is variable. The assistance of the national armed forces is not required. Investments in infrastructure are also still needed. There is still a lack of surveillance systems. The Lithuanians tell us from experience: when they are installed, there will be fewer border violators.
Although border crossers from Latvia are returned to Latvia after detention, the drivers are tried in Lithuania.
"I know that Latvia changed its laws, made them a bit stricter, but in Lithuania, it was always a major criminal offense," the Lithuanian border guard chief said.
The most frequent offenders arrested in Lithuania for carrying border violators are Ukrainian citizens, but there are also many Latvians.
