In the course of the last month, the Latvian Border Guards have apprehended 11 individuals who are accused of being involved in people smuggling from the former Soviet Union. An organized group consisting of six individuals from the region of Vilaka were arrested for having assisted 4 Moldovan nationals to illegally cross the Latvia-Russia border. Similar organized groups were apprehended in Aluksne and Riga, who apparantly smuggled 5 citizens of the Russian Federation. An individual was detained in Ludza for having smuggled four citizens of Ukraine, with the support of an border guard staff member.