Two illegal border crossers detained near Finland’s eastern fence construction site

Two people were detained on Monday evening near Imatra after illegally crossing the eastern border at a site where Finland is building a barrier system, the Eastern Finland Border Guard said.

Antti Virta, assistant commander of the Eastern Finland Border Guard, told Yle that the crossing occurred at a location where construction of the fence complex is not yet complete. He said the incomplete barrier allowed authorities to apprehend the individuals shortly after they entered Finnish territory.

The border guard took the two into custody on suspicion of violating the border act. The illegal crossing was detected using technical monitoring systems and in cooperation with Russian border authorities, Virta said.

Virta noted that illegal border crossings tend to increase during the summer months. He declined to specify the detainees’ nationalities or motives, citing ongoing investigations and the fact that both individuals have applied for asylum in Finland.

The Monday incident is the second suspected illegal crossing in recent days. On Saturday, two people were suspected of illegally entering Finland from Russia in Suomussalmi.