Border-Guard investigators from the Podlaskie detachment arrested two Ukrainian nationals—aged 20 and 46—suspected of organising paid crossings into Poland from Belarus and Lithuania. The coordinated raids on 23 October 2026 in Wielkopolskie and Mazowieckie provinces follow months of phone intercepts and drone surveillance of pickup points near Białowieża. According to the prosecution dossier, the group charged migrants up to €5,000 each for “guaranteed” transport to Germany, using rental vans with false floor compartments. The younger suspect allegedly managed social-media advertising on encrypted channels, while the elder handled logistics and bribes. Both now face up to eight years in prison under Article 264 of the Penal Code. The men have been issued return-to-country orders with Schengen entry bans of eight and seven years respectively, illustrating Poland’s tougher stance after migrant pressure intensified again this autumn. Companies employing third-country nationals should double-check subcontractor vetting, as involvement in facilitation networks can trigger corporate liability. The case underscores that while Poland’s eastern wall slows mass crossings, organised crime adapts quickly, exploiting legal work-permit demand in Western Europe. Expect more spot-checks on vans and buses in transit corridors, potentially delaying legitimate group travel.
Source: Komenda Główna Straży Granicznej
