Latvian border operation cuts illegal crossings, but risks remain

Latvia’s Operation Wolf has reduced illegal border crossings, but officials warn that security risks and difficulties handling migrants who have already entered the country persist, LSM reports.

The operation, which began on August 1, brings together the State Border Guard, the National Armed Forces and police. It includes additional patrols, coordinated resources and aerial surveillance.

State Border Guard deputy chief Ivars Ruskulis said the number of people detained had fallen by about half, as had the number detected after crossing into Lithuania or Estonia. The number of suspected migrant smugglers arrested has also dropped from three to five a week to one or two, he said.

Ruskulis said migration pressure organised by the Russian and Belarusian regimes continued, while illegal crossing risks remained high and migrants were becoming more aggressive. Border fences and other infrastructure, including electrical cabinets, are repeatedly damaged.

Results depend on the personnel available, Ruskulis said. When armed forces staff are assigned to other duties, more people cross into neighbouring Lithuania and Estonia. Border guards expect pressure to increase as temperatures fall, bringing risks to migrants’ health and a need for additional medical resources.

This year, Latvia has taken over more than 1,500 migrants from Lithuania and Estonia. Processing asylum cases is complicated by identity checks and repeated procedures.