Three tunnels have been discovered on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border in just a few weeks

Lithuanian border guards discovered a third unfinished underground tunnel near the border with Belarus in a few weeks. According to a preliminary version, it was being prepared for the illegal movement of people into the territory of Lithuania.

The underpass was found on August 4 near the village of Latežeris in the Druskininkai municipality. Specialists from the Podlaskie unit of the Polish Border Guard, who used special equipment to search for underground passages, assisted the officers of the Varėna border unit.

The tunnel was dug under the physical barrier installed at the border at a depth of about 1.5 meters. Its walls and ceilings were reinforced with logs and boards.

The underground passage started on the Belarusian territory and went about four meters deep into Lithuania from the state border line. The entrance on the Belarusian side was covered with camouflage fabric.

The construction of the tunnel was not completed. There was no exit beyond the physical barrier on the Lithuanian side, so it was not yet possible to use the passage for illegal border crossing.

The Varėna border unit launched a pre-trial investigation under the article on illegal crossing of the state border. The investigation is led by the prosecutor's office of the Alytus district. Lithuanian law provides for a fine, arrest or imprisonment of up to two years for such a violation.

After inspection and the necessary investigative actions, the tunnel was filled with earth.

This is already the third such passage found in the area of the Lithuanian-Belarusian border in recent weeks. On July 23, border guards found an unfinished tunnel near the village of Peščiai, which went about five meters into the Lithuanian territory.

Another underpass was discovered on July 26 near the village of Pertakos in the Lazdijai district. The tunnel, about 11 meters long, was supposed to pass under a patrol road. Nearby were logs prepared for reinforcement, and inside were buckets that could have been used for removing earth.

According to the data of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, 12 attempts to enter the country with the help of underpasses have been recorded since the beginning of 2026.

Based on materials from: LRT