12 Migrant Tunnels Found in Lithuania
Lithuania and Latvia have discovered tunnels used by migrants to cross the border from Belarus, with 12 tunnels found in Lithuania and one in Latvia, amid concerns that Minsk is facilitating migration to destabilize the region
Lithuania's border guards have found 12 tunnels since the beginning of the year along the Belarusian border, with a length of up to 25 meters on the Lithuanian side. The tunnels have been used by migrants to cross the border, with up to 40 migrants exiting such tunnels arrested by Lithuania's border guards.
The discovery of the tunnels has led to increased border security measures in Lithuania. The country's border with Belarus is about 700 kilometers long, around 550 kilometers of which are fenced. However, the elaborate nature of the tunnels has raised suspicions that the migrants may be receiving logistical support from the Belarusian authorities.
In a similar development, Latvia's border guards detected 15 people who had come through a 10-meter-long tunnel near the border fence between Belarus and Latvia. Latvia has a 173-kilometre border with Belarus and has recorded 111 attempted illegal crossings from the country in a single day in mid-July.
Latvia's Interior Minister Janis Dombrava has described the illegal border crossings from Belarus as a 'hybrid threat'. The country has prevented more than 9,000 illegal attempts to cross the border from Belarus so far this year. To combat the issue, Latvia has launched a new security operation, dubbed “Vilkatis” — or “Werewolf” — aimed at strengthening border controls and improving coordination between Latvia’s security services.
## What happens next The discoveries of the tunnels have raised concerns that Minsk is facilitating migration to destabilize the region. Lithuania's prosecutor's office has confirmed a pre-trial investigation is under way concerning approximately 20 people suspected of illegally digging a tunnel. The investigation may shed more light on the involvement of the Belarusian authorities in the migrant crossings.
The situation has significant implications for the region's security and stability. The increase in irregular migration represents a hybrid threat orchestrated by Russia and Belarus, according to the Latvian government. The country is seeking to tighten cooperation with its Baltic neighbours and Poland to curb illegal crossings and secondary migration flows.
