Latvian authorities say they have discovered an underground tunnel leading into the EU-member state from neighboring Belarus. The structure is believed to be the first of its kind found along this particular border designed to smuggle irregular migrants.
Latvia's Interior Minister Janis Dombrava announced that various security officials, including border guards, military and police, had found the the tunnel near the Silene border crossing, located over 200 kilometers southeast of the capital, Riga.
The tunnel entrance was situated about 10 meters away from the Latvian border fence; according to Latvian officials, 15 people were arrested as part of the operation.
Dombrava said he had also ordered a search for additional underground passages in the area using electronic equipment.
The discovery of the secret passage comes just weeks after Latvian soldiers were forced to use teargas to stop migrants trying to enter from Belarus.
Similar underground structures have already been found along the Belarusian border with neighboring Lithuania recently — the Baltic nation which has the longest border shared with Belarus.
Read AlsoMigrant tunnels in Lithuania direct suspicion towards Minsk
Latvia to take extraordinary measures to stop crossings
The border tunnel was found as part of greater efforts by various Latvian agencies to piece together how irregular migrants managed to enter the country despite solid border fortifications being in place.
To date, migrants are known to only have entered the EU member by scaling or destroying parts of the border fence between the two nations, using tools like metal cutters and ladders.
Read AlsoLatvia: Guards use tear gas, fire warning shot to prevent crossing from Belarus
The discovery of tunnels both in Latvia and in Lithuania has now prompted governments in the region to again revise their strategies; Latvia announced a new operation to secure its eastern border and combat smuggling networks, which will also see a doubling of military personnel deployed to the border.
"The protection of Latvia's eastern border will be strengthened, with closer cooperation between the Border Guard, State Police, National Armed Forces and security services, and more intensive use of drones for early detection and detention of illegal migrants," Dombrava said during a recent press conference.
More than 9,000 irregular migrants meanwhile have already been prevented from crossing the border from Belarus into Latvia to date this year, according to the Latvian State Border Guard.
Read AlsoLatvia: 'Belarus route' increasingly active, says border guard chief
Migrants used in 'hybrid war'
Latvia, alongside its Baltic neighbors as well as Poland, accuses Belarus of deliberately sending migrants across the border in an attempt to weaken the cohesion of the European Union.
EU officials refer to this tactic as a form of "hybrid warfare" initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin as an extension of his military campaign in Ukraine.
Belarus, run by longterm strongman Alexander Lukashenko, is one of Moscow's closest allies.
The EU countries bordering Belarus have all significantly beefed up their border defenses to curb illegal entires. Latvia has now also announced that it will cooperate more closely with neighbors Estonia, Lithuania and Poland to stop irregular migrants.
Read AlsoLatvia: Baltic media reports cite ongoing migrant pressure at Belarus border
with dpa, Reuters