Lithuanian citizens and companies organizing and assisting immigration were also active, the department said in a report of 2012 operations published on Friday.
According to the document, organizers of illegal migration have successfully transformed legal gaps in the country's laws into a profitable business. Information about easy ways of immigrating to Lithuania and possibilities of making a profit on this is published online and promoted in immigrant communities in European Union (EU) countries.
"Communities of immigrants from third countries in EU member-states see Lithuania as one of the most favorable countries for legalization. The room for abusing the immigration system allows entering Lithuania and, using the status of legal presence in Lithuania, making unimpeded entry in other member-states of the EU," reads the report.
According to the document, foreigners found sham companies, enter in sham marriage with Lithuanian citizens or buy real estate in Lithuania to acquire temporary residence permits in Lithuania. The department did not rule out that persons or groups posing a threat to national security or Lithuania and other EU countries could also enter the Schengen area via the illegal migration channels.
According to data provided by the State Border Guard Service, nearly 400 foreigners who had applied for asylum in Lithuania unlawfully left the country in 2012 – most of them were citizens of Georgia (260) and Afghanistan (52).
Last year, asylum applications were received from 309 foreigners. Another 2,215 foreigners had their entry refused and 122 foreigners were sent out of Lithuania.
