Friday, August 21, 2026 - Latvian border guards detained 28 migrants after they crossed into Latvia from Belarus through a concealed underground tunnel, authorities said.
The group was intercepted on Thursday in the Krāslava area, where officers investigating the crossing discovered a passage hidden under moss and vegetation about 20 metres from the border.
The discovery marks the second tunnel used for an illegal crossing found along Latvia’s border with Belarus this month.
Earlier in August, border guards detained 15 migrants after uncovering another tunnel in southeastern Latvia. All 28 people detained in the latest incident were returned to Belarus, according to Latvian authorities.
The latest incident is increasing pressure on Latvia to strengthen surveillance along its 173-kilometre border with Belarus as attempts to enter the European Union illegally continue.
Authorities have stepped up patrols and monitoring operations, while the emergence of underground routes highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods being used to bypass border barriers.
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