Estonia tightens migration controls on border with Latvia

The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board has tightened control over the border with Latvia. Belta writes about it.

According to the Estonian media, such measures were taken due to the frequent attempts of illegal immigrants to enter the Baltic republic. Last week, more than 40 people were illegally detained by Latvia. Estonian authorities are increasingly checking people and vehicles arriving from Latvia directly at the border.

Speaking about the countries of origin of migrants, the representative of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Department stressed that Estonian border guards on the border with Latvia most often detained citizens of Somalia, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. According to him, the geography of the countries of origin is very extensive.

Police officers also check trains arriving from Latvia to the border railway station Valga: they pass through the cars and, if necessary, check the documents of passengers.

- We control key transit hubs – railways and roads – where we conduct checks on people and transport. At the same time, we appealed to the owners of accommodation facilities and other organizations, such as bus companies, with a request to inform us about everything that raises questions or suspicions.