Police officers from Podlasie made key detentions in connection with criminal activity in the Podlasie Voivodeship. Thanks to close cooperation with another services, the group active in the illegal transport of migrants to Germany was able to break up. The case may have serious legal consequences for detainees who are facing up to 8 years imprisonment.
Breakthrough detentions in Hajnówka
The case was tempomed erstwhile the Border defender in Hajnówka stopped a 21-year-old resident of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship who owned drugs. This event launched a broad investigation conducted by officers from the Investigation and Criminal Investigation Division of the Provincial Police in Białystok. Investigators rapidly linked the detention of a young man to a larger operation involving illegal migration.
On the same day, officers stopped another suspect. Mazovia resident, driving a Toyota car, carried 3 foreigners without documents. With safe evidence on the driver's phone, police have discovered records of calls in which participants of the operation exchanged information about their location and instructions on how and where to decision migrants. The driver, a 44-year-old male, heard the charge of attempting to assist in illegal border crossing. He claimed it was his first specified case and that he acted for financial reasons. The court applied police supervision to him.
Network of smugglers: How did the group work?
According to police findings, the men detained were only part of a larger smuggling group. For each individual that was transported, they received up to PLN 1000. Their task was to paper the transportation of migrants to the Polish-German border, usually in the Świnoujście area, and then apply for remuneration. All activities were carefully coordinated and monitored.
Subsequent detentions included 2 another residents of Mazovia, including a 31-year-old man who was identified by investigators as “brain of surgery”. His function was to organize the full operation, which makes him the most severe punishment, up to 8 years in prison. The second of the detainees, a 44-year-old, was besides active in the illegal transport of migrants, for which he was accused of assisting.
Evidence: drugs, phones and photos
During the detention of a 21-year-old, not only drugs were found in his car, but besides 2 cell phones. In 1 of them there were photographs a fewer days ago, which depicted migrants sitting in the car, and then photos from the Polish-German border. Investigators had no uncertainty about the young man's engagement in the operation. He heard 3 charges: aiding, trying to aid with illegal border crossings and possession of drugs. At the request of the prosecutor, he was temporarily arrested for a period of 3 months.
Punishment and further investigation
The fishy in this case is facing up to 8 years imprisonment. Police and prosecutors proceed to analyse to find the full scope of activities of the group and identify another persons active in illegal activities.
Risk and magnitude of problems
Illegal migration has become 1 of the major problems at the borders of Poland. This situation requires not only effective action by the services but besides global cooperation to reduce illegal activities and punish those liable for organising smuggling networks.
Police remind us that assisting with illegal border crossing is simply a crime threatened by severe penalties. At the same time, he stresses that all case, regardless of the motivations of the perpetrators, will be prosecuted with full determination.
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Podlasie police broke up an immigrant transport group to Germany
