Finnish Border Guard flags persistent irregular-migration attempts via Estonia

Finland’s Gulf of Finland Coast Guard District (Suomenlahden merivartiosto) reports that the risk of irregular migration from Estonia into Finland remained elevated during week 38 (12–18 September). Officers carried out 91,772 border checks at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport—300 more than the previous week—and conducted 202 immigration-control inspections in the ports of Helsinki. Eight people were refused entry, and one new asylum application was registered. The weekly bulletin points to an attempted unauthorised sea crossing on Monday near Virolahti involving a small craft that returned to Russian waters before interception. Criminal investigations were opened into nine new cases ranging from facilitation of illegal entry to breaches of entry bans. The Coast Guard continued bilateral cooperation with the Estonian Police and Border Guard, sharing real-time intelligence on suspected smuggling networks operating between Tallinn and Helsinki ferry terminals. The maritime component also took part in the EU maritime-security exercise MARSEC EU26 LIVEX 2, testing joint interception procedures. For business-travel planners, the data suggest heightened screening of non-EU crew members arriving on cruise vessels (126 crew checks were performed last week) and a higher probability of secondary inspections for third-country nationals on Tallinn–Helsinki ferries. Companies should ensure that workers carry complete documentation and factor in possible delays at ports and Helsinki-Vantaa. The bulletin underscores Finland’s tougher stance on “instrumentalised” migration at its external borders—a policy that remains in force until end-2026 and could be extended. Organisations moving personnel across the Gulf of Finland should keep close contact with ferry operators and monitor Coast Guard advisories.