On Monday, May11, following a pursuit and the use of a firearm, a “carrier” of foreign nationals was detained in Daugavpils, and the illegal crossing of the border by six persons was prevented.
State Police officials in Laucesa Parish, Augšdaugava Municipality, attempted to stop a Jeep vehicle for inspection, but the driver ignored the lawful orders of the police officials and drove at high speed in the direction of Daugavpils. Police officials immediately began pursuing the vehicle, and as a result, the car was stopped in Daugavpils. However, the driver and passengers fled in different directions. Police officials fired a warning shot into the air, after which one person was detained. Several State Police and Daugavpils Municipal Police patrols were involved to provide support, as well as operational personnel from the Criminal Investigation Board of the Daugavpils Board of the State Border Guard and a dog handler with a service dog. As a result of the measures taken, the State Police officials detained the “carrier” — a French citizen — and three passengers, while operational personnel of the State Border Guard together with the dog handler detained two more passengers in an abandoned house. During the clarification of the circumstances, it was established that the passengers of the vehicle did not possess valid travel documents, visas, or residence permits.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against the “carrier” under Section 285.1, Paragraph 3 of the Criminal Law for providing a large number of persons with the possibility to illegally stay in the Republic of Latvia.
Six persons were prevented from illegally crossing the State border in accordance with Section 4 of the State Border Guard Law.
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.
As previously reported, on May 7, following a pursuit and the use of a firearm, border guards in Augšdaugava Municipality detained the “carrier” of persons who had illegally crossed the State border. Three more “carriers” were detained in Krāslava and Preiļi Municipalities. Sixteen persons were prevented from illegally crossing the State border.