On Tuesday, 17 August, the Cabinet of Ministers voted in favor to amend the Criminal Law and introduce increased responsibility for human smuggling across the state border. The final vote on this bill lies with the Parliament.
The draft law introduces harsher punishments for human smuggling across the state border – imprisonment for up to four years, temporary imprisonment, labor punishment, or a fine. These amendments highlight that such crimes are a severe threat to the public interest.
Until now, human smuggling across the border was punishable by imprisonment for up to two years, temporary imprisonment, community service, or a fine.
The amendments were made in the context of the current situation on the border of Latvia-Belarus, at the discretion of the Minister of the Interior, in order to discourage people from human smuggling.
Prepared by:
Communication department