Finnish authorities completed a criminal investigation into a suspected international people smuggling network that moved more than 40 third-country nationals from Latvia through Finland to other EU member states between December 2025 and April 2026. The network is believed to be part of a wider criminal organisation involving the movement of migrants from Belarus into the EU. Migrants and smugglers originated from East Africa. The network's methods included arranging air travel from Riga Airport via Air Baltic flights to Finland (14 flights identified between November 18, 2025 and January 12, 2026) and later switching to a route by train from Latvia to Tallinn and ferry to Helsinki, with onward travel through Haparanda to Sweden. Some journeys were disrupted by authorities in cooperation with transit countries. One suspect remains in custody and has been referred for prosecutorial consideration for aggravated organisation of illegal immigration.

Finnish authorities completed a criminal investigation into a suspected international people smuggling network that moved more than 40 third-country nationals from Latvia through Finland to other EU member states between December 2025 and April 2026. The network is believed to be part of a wider criminal organisation involving the movement of migrants from Belarus into the EU. Migrants and smugglers originated from East Africa. The network's methods included arranging air travel from Riga Airport via Air Baltic flights to Finland (14 flights identified between November 18, 2025 and January 12, 2026) and later switching to a route by train from Latvia to Tallinn and ferry to Helsinki, with onward travel through Haparanda to Sweden. Some journeys were disrupted by authorities in cooperation with transit countries. One suspect remains in custody and has been referred for prosecutorial consideration for aggravated organisation of illegal immigration.