On Saturday, May 23, in the Augšdaugava and Krāslava Municipalities, three “carriers” of persons who had illegally crossed the State border were detained.
While checking information, border guards in Tabore Parish stopped a Nissan vehicle carrying two Bulgarian citizens. Meanwhile, in Andrupene Parish, officials of the State Police stopped a Volvo vehicle driven by a Latvian citizen. During an inspection of the passenger compartments and luggage compartments of the vehicles, it was established that in one case there were seven, and in the other case eight persons of Asian origin without valid travel documents, visas, or residence permits, who had previously illegally crossed the Belarus–Latvia border.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against the “carriers” under Section 285¹, Paragraph 3 of the Criminal Law for providing a large number of persons — that is, in one case more than five persons — with the possibility to illegally stay in the Republic of Latvia.
15 persons were prevented from illegally crossing the State border in accordance with Section 4 of the State Border Guard Law.
In addition, administrative violation proceedings were initiated against the Bulgarian citizen for driving a vehicle without having obtained a driving licence in accordance with the prescribed procedure, and for transporting a greater number of passengers than specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
This year, the State Border Guard has already initiated 46 criminal proceedings (11 of which were separated from previously initiated criminal proceedings) against 36 persons for the illegal transportation of persons and/or providing persons with the possibility to illegally stay in Latvia.
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.