Tunnel discovered on the border of Latvia and Belarus

**Tunnel discovered on Latvia-Belarus border, Lithuania vows to fight illegal migration**

On August 11, Latvia announced the discovery of a tunnel under its border with Belarus. The news came after the country announced a plan to combat networks that help illegal immigrants. Reuters reported.

Latvia, a member of the European Union, shares a 173-kilometer border with Belarus. In July, Latvian soldiers fired tear gas and warning shots to stop migrants trying to enter from Belarus.

“The protection of Latvia’s eastern border will be strengthened. The Border Guard, State Police, Armed Forces and security services will work closely together. Drones will be used more actively for the early detection and detention of illegal immigrants,” Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs. In recent weeks, European countries have expressed concern about irregular migration, which began in July when tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from Morocco crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

Kulbergs said criminal networks were facilitating the movement of migrants from Belarus to Latvia. They were taking them into Europe's visa-free Schengen zone, but their final destination was elsewhere on the continent.

"They are going to wherever it is easiest to get into the European Union. So we should not be the easiest place," Kulbergs told a news conference.

He pledged to target networks transporting migrants across the border and any support points in Latvia as part of Operation Werewolf.

“If everything goes according to plan, we can deal a serious blow to the system. My message to the organizers is this: everything will be stopped,” Kulbergs said.

Kulbergs told Reuters in July that the migrant situation was a “hybrid threat.” That’s why Latvia has doubled the number of border guards.

The government said in a statement that Latvia would work with its neighbors — Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and others — to stem the flow of migrants. In July, Lithuania also reported the discovery of a tunnel used by migrants to enter from Belarus.