Poland carried out its fourth collective return flight of 2026 on 2 July, and details were released the following day. Fifteen Georgian citizens – 11 of whom had criminal convictions in Poland – were flown from Łódź Władysław Reymont Airport to Tbilisi on a charter organised under Frontex’s ‘collecting return operation’ (CRO) scheme. Georgian security officers escorted the flight, while Poland’s Return Operations Centre managed pre-departure procedures. Those removed had exhausted appeals against return orders based on serious offences including robbery with violence, rape and repeated drink-driving. Four others accepted voluntary departure after overstaying visas. Each returnee underwent medical exams and COVID-screening before boarding. The operation forms part of Warsaw’s tougher stance on overstays and criminality among third-country nationals, following amendments to the Law on Foreigners that accelerate removals where public-security grounds apply. Since January, Poland has removed 213 individuals under CRO flights – twice last year’s pace – signalling to employers that criminal records will sharply curtail any future work-permit eligibility. For global-mobility programmes, the message is clear: regularise immigration status promptly and monitor employee conduct. HR teams should track staff convictions abroad, as these can now trigger mandatory return decisions and multi-year Schengen bans.
