Latvian authorities have discovered another tunnel through which migrants managed to enter the country underground from neighboring Belarus, DPA reports.
Earlier today, border guards detained 28 migrants who illegally crossed the EU's heavily guarded external border in southeastern Latvia.
While investigating the case, Latvian border guards discovered a moss-covered entrance to a secret tunnel about 20 meters from the border.
A similar tunnel under the border between Belarus and Latvia was discovered last week.
Underground trafficking routes have been discovered in both Poland and Lithuania on several occasions, through which migrants have crossed from Belarus to EU member states.
Latvia has repeatedly accused the authoritarian regime in Belarus for systematically transporting migrants from crisis regions to the EU's external border.
In response, the government in Riga has stepped up border security and begun building a border fence, which migrants have been trying to scale using makeshift ladders or metal cutters.
Latvia recently launched Operation Werewolf to strengthen its eastern border and curb the growing number of illegal crossings.
The operation involves closer cooperation between the border guard service, state police, armed forces and intelligence services.
A wider use of radar systems and drones along the border to detect illegal crossings is also planned.