Latvia's State Border Guard has announced that they thwarted the largest attempt of illegal border crossings from Belarus to Latvia in a single day, with 45 individuals trying to enter the country. This brings the total number of illegal crossings stopped this year to 81. The increased efforts to control the border follow heightened flows of illegal migrants from Belarus, prompting the Latvian government to extend enhanced border security measures until the end of June 2023.

The enhanced border control measures have been implemented in specific areas along the Latvian-Belarusian border, including Ludza, Krāslava, and parts of Daugavpils, among others. This comes in response to the rising concerns over the flow of illegal migrants facilitated by the Belarusian regime. In 2022, Latvia's State Border Guard reported halting over 12,000 attempts at illegal crossing, indicating a significant increase in migration pressure in recent years.

The authorities mentioned that due to humanitarian considerations, 31 individuals were allowed to cross the border last year despite the illegal status of their entry. Year-to-date statistics for 2024 show that at least 5,388 attempts have already been intercepted. The situation reflects ongoing challenges faced by Baltic states as they navigate border security and humanitarian concerns in the context of growing regional instability and migration issues stemming from Belarus.