The Central Bureau of Police Investigation (CBŚP) and the Border Guard, operating under the supervision of the Warsaw-Praga District Prosecutor’s Office, arrested 24 individuals, including two alleged ringleaders - a 52-year-old Polish citizen and a 39-year-old Ukrainian national.
Authorities said the crime group operated between 2020 and 2024, using falsified documents such as counterfeit work assignments and fake addresses to secure Polish residence permits for up to 1,500 people, primarily from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Turkey.
Fees for the illicit service ranged from PLN 3,000 to PLN 5,000 (around EUR 710–1,180).
International cooperation through Europol revealed that at least 20 of those whose stays were irregularly legalised later committed crimes across the European Union, often in connection with organised criminal networks.
The operation covered central and southwestern parts of Poland and involved more than 160 police and Border Guard officers, supported by the Central Bureau for Cybercrime and the National Revenue Administration.
Seized evidence included mobile phones, laptops, stamps, extensive documentation, over PLN 40,000 (EUR 9,470) in various currencies, and a car valued at approximately PLN 120,000 (EUR 28,400), all secured pending further legal proceedings.
The accused now face charges including participation in an organised criminal group, facilitating illegal residence, document forgery, and providing false testimony.
Two suspects have been remanded in custody, while the remainder are subject to police supervision and travel restrictions.
Polish authorities warned that illegal residence schemes undermine migration controls, expose the state to financial losses, and facilitate cross-border criminal activity, posing risks to public safety both within Poland and across the European Union.
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Source: Polish Radio English Service/CBŚP/X/@NadwislanskiSG