Lithuanian border guards discover tunnel from Belarus
Lithuanian border guards have found a tunnel leading from Belarus, likely intended for irregular migration. Discovered in the Varėna district, the tunnel had not yet breached into Lithuanian territory.
Lithuania’s border guards discovered a tunnel leading from Belarus into the country, the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) said in a statement on Monday, adding that the tunnel was likely intended to be used for irregular migration.
Officers found the tunnel on Wednesday last week after detecting “vibrations in the ground indicating that an underground tunnel might be being dug from the Belarusian side” in Lithuania’s southeastern Varėna district, VSAT said. Polish officials assisted their Lithuanian counterparts, bringing specialist equipment designed to search for tunnels.
After drilling a hole, officers discovered a tunnel which did not yet have an opening into Lithuanian territory. The tunnel, around a metre in diameter, was found at a depth of 1.5 metres below ground, according to VSAT.
Tunnels have previously been discovered in Lithuania and Poland, which were used for smuggling goods and people across the border from Belarus.
