Moldovan citizen detained in Zarasai district for transporting illegal migrants

A Moldovan national has been detained in Lithuania’s Zarasai district on suspicion of transporting six illegal migrants from Latvia, LRT reports, citing the State Border Guard Service (VSAT).

The 42-year-old driver was stopped by police in the Zarasai–Bradesiai–Obeliai area on Wednesday evening after VSAT’s Criminal Intelligence Unit provided information about a suspicious vehicle. Officers halted a Volkswagen Touran with Lithuanian licence plates, which was carrying several young passengers without identity or citizenship documents.

The migrants, aged between 17 and 25, identified themselves as Sudanese nationals. The driver was arrested and placed in custody, while the migrants were temporarily accommodated at a Vilnius border guard unit. On Friday, a court ordered the Moldovan citizen to be held in pre-trial detention for two months at the prosecutor’s request.

VSAT has launched a pre-trial investigation into the illegal transportation of people across the state border for personal gain. Under Lithuanian law, such offences can result in fines or imprisonment of up to eight years. The migrants will be returned to Latvian border authorities following necessary procedures, while the vehicle remains impounded at the Vilnius border guard unit.