Lithuanian police detain French national transporting 19 illegal migrants from Latvia
A 23-year-old French citizen was arrested in Lithuania for driving a Bolt Drive van carrying 19 illegal migrants from Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, all of whom were trying to reach Western Europe.
Lithuania's State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reported on Monday that a French national was arrested on Sunday, July 5, in the Šakiai district. The man, 23, was driving a Volkswagen Crafter minibus bearing a "Bolt Drive" logo when police stopped it near the village of Kiduliai.
The minibus contained 19 illegal migrants: 11 Iranian nationals, four Pakistani nationals, and four Afghan nationals. Only two Iranians had identification documents; the rest had none.
The driver was taken into custody, and a pre-trial investigation has been launched for illegally transporting migrants across the state border. The offense carries a penalty of a fine or up to eight years in prison.
The migrants will be sent back to Latvia, where the journey originated. The incident is part of a pattern where migrants who enter Latvia from Belarus then attempt to travel through Lithuania and Poland to reach Western Europe.
Bolt Drive, the car-sharing company, stated it has zero tolerance for illegal activities using its service. The specific renter has been banned from the platform. The company is cooperating with law enforcement and providing all necessary information for the investigation.
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