Hunters’ camera captures 27 men who crossed Lithuania’s border illegally

A hunters’ camera in a forest in Švenčionys district captured 27 foreign nationals who had allegedly crossed Lithuania’s state border illegally, LRT reported. The information was passed to the State Border Guard Service, and all 27 men were detained.

State Border Guard Service representative Giedrius Mišutis told LRT that the men appeared to be young and in good health. None had documents, and they did not resist or try to flee.

One man identified himself as a Turkish national, another as a Pakistani national, while the rest said they were citizens of Somalia. Their situation is being assessed, and authorities have not yet decided whether they will be returned.

The Lithuanian Hunters’ and Anglers’ Association said on Facebook that the camera, installed near a wild animal baiting site in a Švenčionys district forest, recorded the group on Thursday morning. Hunters who noticed the unusual footage immediately informed border guards, the association said.

Mišutis said that people who illegally cross the border are usually returned, but no decision had been made in this case. He added that while illegal crossings usually occur more often in southern Lithuania, increased activity has been recorded in recent days in the eastern part of the country, around Ignalina and Švenčionys.