Heed the caution: Avoid being deceived into human trafficking, advises the Latvian Foreign Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Latvia has issued a statement regarding the increasing number of Latvian nationals involved in the smuggling of illegal migrants.

In 2022, 42 smugglers from Latvia were detained in various European countries, a number that rose to 55 in 2023. The latest statistics show that in 2024, the Latvian Embassy in Hungary reported 6 cases of Latvian smugglers being detained, while the Latvian Embassy in Poland reported an additional 11 detentions.

The Ministry urges Latvian nationals to carefully evaluate job offers abroad, as job offers involving easy profits from unverified employers may be intended for criminal activities. The work of smuggling immigrants into the European Union is illegal and carries severe penalties, often resulting in years in prison.

The unsearched recruiters targeting Latvian citizens with job offers purportedly for goods transport but in reality facilitating illegal migration into the EU are part of human trafficking networks operating across Europe. These recruiters are linked to criminal trafficking organizations exploiting vulnerable individuals, as documented by Europol in relation to trafficking in human beings and related criminal activities. Specific identities or groups are not publicly disclosed.

Persons who find themselves in an emergency situation abroad are invited to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 24-hour duty officer of the Consular Department can be reached at phone - 371 26337711, or via email at [email protected].

Additional information can be found on the website www.cilvektirdznieciba.lv. The Ministry also reminds citizens that the work of smuggling immigrants is a criminal offense, with severe consequences.

A video clip on the matter can be watched above.