Officers of the Warmia-Mazury branch of Poland’s Border Guard stopped a Lexus RX-450 worth an estimated PLN 220,000 (about €50,000) at the Grzechotki–Mamonovo border checkpoint on 21 September 2026. A database check revealed that German authorities had listed the SUV as stolen only hours earlier. The 55-year-old Belarusian driver, who was attempting to exit Poland for Russia’s Kaliningrad region, was detained and the vehicle impounded. The interception highlights how Poland’s full-coverage rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and upgraded automatic-number-plate recognition technology is tightening controls along the external Schengen border. According to the Border Guard, more than 180 stolen vehicles have been recovered at Polish land crossings since the start of the year, a 24 % jump over the same period in 2025. For corporate mobility managers, the case underscores continuing instability on the Kaliningrad corridor. Companies routing staff or high-value shipments through Poland’s north-eastern crossings should anticipate spot checks, longer dwell times and occasional closures as security remains heightened. In a statement, the Border Guard reminded travellers that attempted export of stolen property carries up to five years’ imprisonment under Polish law. The detained driver now faces criminal charges in Poland in addition to potential extradition to Germany.
Source: Warmia-Mazury Border Guard
