On Wednesday, May 20, a “carrier” of persons who had illegally crossed the State border was detained in Krāslava Municipality.
During an information check, officials of the State Police stopped a Renault vehicle in Dagda Parish, driven by a Romanian citizen. During an inspection of the vehicle’s interior, it was established that there were 11 persons of Asian origin inside the vehicle without valid travel documents, visas, or residence permits, who had previously illegally crossed the Belarus–Latvia border.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the “carriers” under Section 285, Paragraph 3¹ of the Criminal Law for the illegal transportation of persons across the State border, if committed during the enhanced border surveillance regime or during a State of emergency declared due to a threat to the inviolability of the State border, regardless of where in the territory of Latvia the offense was committed.
11 persons were prevented from illegally crossing the State border in accordance with Section 4 of the State Border Guard Law.
The State Border Guard has this year already initiated 44 criminal proceedings (11 of which were separated from previously initiated criminal proceedings) against 34 persons for the illegal transportation of persons and/or providing persons with the opportunity to illegally stay in Latvia. Last year, 122 criminal proceedings were initiated over the course of the year for identical activities (50 of which were separated from previously initiated criminal proceedings) against 88 persons.
The State Border Guard once again calls on residents not to engage in illegal activities and reminds that severe penalties are prescribed for such involvement. For organizing or supporting the illegal transportation of persons, offenders may be punished with imprisonment for a term of two to ten years, with or without confiscation of property, and with probation supervision for a period of up to three years or without it.
It has already been reported that on May 16 and 18, two “carriers” of persons who had illegally crossed the State border were detained in Augšdaugava and Krāslava Municipalities.