Liisa Pakosta wants to make a proposal to the Riigikogu and the State Chancellery.
She wants to toughen penalties for the illegal smuggling of migrants across the border.
Pakosta sent a proposal to the State Chancellery and the Riigikogu Legal Affairs Committee.
She wants to amend the Penal Code.
According to the bill, the penalty for a typical border crossing violation will increase to up to five years.
In aggravated cases, the penalty can range from one to seven years.
Aggravating circumstances include life-threatening activities, repeated offenses, or the involvement of multiple individuals.
The penalty can increase from one year to three years.
The Ministry of Justice says hybrid attacks are coming from neighboring countries.
The number of migrants and smugglers in Estonia has grown sharply.
Pakosta says neighboring countries support the movement of migrants from third countries across the border.
As a result, more illegal border crossers have come to Estonia.
Criminals assist these border crossers.
Migrants pay them money for bringing them across the border.
Pakosta noted that 11 such cases were registered last year.
This year, 26 cases have already been registered in just eight months.
According to the Police and Border Guard Board, 27 individuals were caught residing illegally in 2025.
This year, 181 individuals have already been caught.
Pakosta says illegal border crossing and residing in Estonia illegally are dangerous crimes.
Currently, the penalties are too lenient.
The law does not take into account whether it involves repeated violations or financial gain.
The risk of punishment is not severe enough.
This is evidenced by the rise in crime rates and the activities of criminal networks.
Pakosta says the current law no longer reflects the situation.
Penalties must be stricter.
In addition, Pakosta wanted to change penalties for damaging objects of national importance.
The penalty can range from one to eight years.
Objects of national importance include defense forces and police buildings.
Pakosta cited the recent fire in Tallinn this past August as an example.