Latvian authorities detain another asylum seeker from the Riga-Vilnius train
Border guards detained a Sudanese man from the Riga-Vilnius train after he requested asylum in Latvia but had illegally left the country and was attempting to travel westward.
Lithuanian border guards have detained a 22-year-old Egyptian citizen on a train traveling from Riga to Vilnius. This action took place during a routine check as part of Lithuania's efforts to prevent illegal secondary migration. The suspect had previously requested asylum in Latvia but left illegally, raising the guards' suspicion when he failed to present valid travel documentation. Instead, he showed officers a photo of his asylum application card from Latvia on his mobile phone.
Upon the train's arrival in Šiauliai, officers identified the man as a potential illegal migrant. He was subsequently escorted to the Šiauliai border checkpoint of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (VSAT). In adherence to protocol, the authorities took the 22-year-old into custody, and he was processed at the VSAT's Foreigners Registration Center, where suitable measures were taken to facilitate his return to Latvia, aligning with bilateral border management practices.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding secondary migration in the region, which has seen a spike in asylum seekers attempting to move through Latvia and Lithuania towards western Europe. The Lithuanian government continues to enhance border controls to address these challenges, ensuring that those who have crossed borders unlawfully are dealt with comprehensively and effectively under the law.