Police detain six suspected migrant smugglers in Estonia

Estonian police have detained six foreign nationals suspected of organising illegal migration and 19 people who entered the country without legal grounds, ERR reports. Prosecutors are seeking the suspects’ detention or punishment through expedited proceedings.

Investigators suspect the men transported people into Estonia in vehicles despite the passengers having no legal basis to enter the country.

At about 5 p.m. on October 3, police stopped a Volvo with Latvian licence plates in Tori municipality. The 62-year-old German driver was detained on suspicion of a crime. Police found seven men in the passenger compartment and boot. The men said they were from Morocco and Somalia, had no identity documents, and were wearing wet, dirty clothes.

On October 4, border guards found three undocumented foreign nationals in the boot of an Audi bound for Sweden at Paldiski North Port. The men, who said they were from Eritrea and Ethiopia, were partly concealed under a blanket. The 20-year-old Ukrainian driver had a Swedish residence permit, but the driving licence he presented was found to be forged. Another Ukrainian citizen was also in the car. Both Ukrainians were detained as suspects, while the other men were placed in a detention centre.

At about 4 a.m. on October 5, police stopped a Toyota with Lithuanian plates in Häädemeeste municipality. The car was driven by a 22-year-old Pakistani citizen with a Lithuanian residence permit. Another Pakistani citizen with a Lithuanian residence permit and two Somali citizens without identity documents were also in the car. The group was taken to Pärnu Police Station to check the circumstances of their arrival and stay in Estonia. The two Pakistani citizens were detained as suspects.

At about 1 a.m. on October 6, police stopped a Kia Sportage with Latvian plates on the Tallinn-Tartu-Luhamaa highway. The 63-year-old Bulgarian driver was detained on suspicion of a crime. Police found seven men in the passenger compartment and boot who had entered the country illegally and were all from third countries. The men were taken to Tartu Police Station.

Senior prosecutor Toomas Koitmäe said prosecutors would ask a court to detain all the suspects or seek their punishment through expedited proceedings. He said people involved in transporting migrants across borders for profit risked their own futures as well as the lives and health of those being transported.

Since July, police have detained 303 foreign nationals who arrived in Estonia illegally. A total of 226 foreigners are being held at the Tallinn detention centre. Latvia has been handed 93 people who entered Estonia illegally from Belarus via Latvia.