Officers of the Maritime (Morski) Border Guard Division joined nationwide enforcement efforts on 8–9 June, focusing on ports and tourist hubs in the Pomeranian, West-Pomeranian and Warmia–Mazury regions. According to a 11 June bulletin, 176 foreign nationals were vetted for visa validity, proof of subsistence and purpose of stay. Twelve individuals—citizens of Georgia, Ukraine and Indonesia—lacked proper documentation or had overstayed. Ten received immediate return orders with Schengen bans of three to five years; two were placed in a guarded centre pending court rulings. Authorities highlighted cases of Indonesian seasonal workers diverted from registered fish-processing jobs to unregulated ship-repair yards—an arrangement that exposed employers to fines up to PLN 100 000. The maritime sweep coincides with the summer cruise and yachting season, when port cities experience a spike in short-term workforce demand. Ship-management companies and offshore-wind suppliers using Gdańsk and Gdynia are advised to review crew-list procedures and ensure that harbourmasters stamp seafarers’ arrival and departure correctly to avoid unintentional overstays. Local business chambers welcomed the action for ‘leveling the playing field’, noting that abuse of seasonal-work visas distorts labour costs. Migrant advocates caution that faster removal orders may limit access to legal aid and appeal. The Border Guard signalled it will deploy mobile biometric units at ferry terminals from July, enabling real-time Eurodac checks as Poland rolls out the new system.
Source: Maritime Border Guard
