Real mushroom pickers keep their mushroom sites secret, but it is no secret to many that the Ādaži military base is a popular mushroom-picking spot year after year. However, the area is a military facility, which means that unauthorized access is not allowed.
"There are military exercises here all year round. The workload is enormous, including firing live ammunition. Both with rifle weapons and with artillery systems, and in principle people risk their health and lives by being here because they never know when the exercises will start," explained Major Jānis Krūmiņš, Head of the Military Police Security Administration.
Latvian Television also witnessed the variety and size of the training at the training ground. To ensure that the training goes as planned, security patrols make the rounds of the training ground every day. And almost every day, a mushroom picker is caught.
When the patrol approaches, people act in different ways - some say they didn't know about the area, others hide.
Last year, the military police initiated more than 30 administrative proceedings for trespassing. This year, since the beginning of the season, it has already been 17.
"It is no secret what the geopolitical situation in Europe is at the moment, Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine. There is an increased interest in military objects. About what is happening here, about the presence of allies. There have been several incidents here under the guise of mushroom pickers or holidaymakers, which have been brought to our attention by the security authorities. So - approaching military facilities with the aim of surveillance, gaining information, even committing other acts that threaten both the armed forces and national security in general," Krūmiņš said.
A person can be fined up to €1,500 per case for being in a military facility without permission.
