On Tuesday 8 September, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the amendments to the “Regulations Regarding the Technical Equipment Necessary for the Border Check and Border Surveillance”. This means that the officials of the State Border Guard will be able to use unmanned aircraft (drones) in border surveillance.
The Regulations do not provide that the State Border Guard is entitled to use unmanned aircraft in the supervision of the State border. Therefore, border guards use helicopters as the only type of aircraft, which serve as an effective tool to prevent illegal migration, illegal movement of excise goods and other threats to the security of the State border, as well as to the support of activities of other public authorities. However, there are certain deficiencies in the use of helicopters: relatively high operational costs, weather conditions and limited duration of flights, which can be prevented by using the unmanned aircraft in border surveillance.
Experience at international level suggests that unmanned aircraft are actively used in patrolling national borders. The estimate of the benefits of unmanned aircraft leads to the conclusion that they are an effective means for risk prevention (obtaining and using early information).
The State Border Guard has at its disposal unmanned aircraft to be used for control of State borders, border zone and border regime control, State borders at sea, monitoring of territorial sea and inland waters, searching, persecution and coordination of detention of illegal migrants.
Samanta Nalivaiko
Ministry of the Interior
Communication Division
Public Relations Professional
Phone: 67219082
E-mail: samanta.nalivaiko@iem.gov.lv