Border chief says Vilkatis halves crossing attempts as tensions persist

Attempts to cross Latvia’s border illegally have fallen by half since the start of Operation Vilkatis, but the situation remains tense, State Border Guard chief Guntis Pujāts said in an interview with Latvijas Radio’s Labrīt programme, LSM reported.

Pujāts said the State Police and National Armed Forces had significantly increased their involvement, with the military presence at the border greater than ever. However, people attempting to cross illegally are becoming more aggressive and adapting, he said.

Border guard personnel are physically exhausted, Pujāts said. They do not want additional overtime pay so much as a chance to rest, but the workload has not eased, he added.

Since the start of the year, 9,932 people have been prevented from crossing illegally from Belarus into Latvia. Operation Vilkatis began on August 11 to counter illegal migration and has been extended through the end of the year.