A man from Kaunas has been sentenced by the Panevėžys District Court for participating in the illegal transportation of migrants, which resulted in a tragic car accident. The incident occurred on the evening of November 5, 2025, when a group of foreign nationals from Afghanistan and Pakistan, who had paid traffickers between $7,000 and $15,000, illegally crossed the Latvian border. While being transported by a Latvian driver, the vehicle veered off the road and crashed, resulting in the driver's death and leaving one Afghan migrant severely injured on the roadside.

Following the accident, the remaining seven migrants, who had sustained various injuries, followed the driver’s orders and fled into the nearby woods, abandoning their deceased driver and injured companion. The group of migrants was later found by a passerby who called for help. Meanwhile, while authorities were dealing with the crash site, the migrants received new directions, and the accused, identified as M. Sabas, returned the next morning in a rented vehicle to pick them up, illustrating the ongoing challenges of human trafficking in the area and the lengths to which individuals will go to facilitate illegal migrations.

This case emphasizes the serious legal repercussions faced by those involved in human trafficking and illegal migration. It highlights the risks and dangers associated with such activities and raises awareness about the plight of migrants who must rely on traffickers, often putting their lives in jeopardy for a chance at a better future. The legal penalties and societal repercussions of such actions are important as authorities continue to combat human trafficking networks in the region.