International group transporting refugees across the border detained in Poland

The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Co-operation (Europol) reported on the liquidation of a criminal group that was engaged in the transfer of refugees from the Middle East to the countries of the European Union, including through the Polish-Belarusian border, the State Border Committee informs in its Telegram channel

According to the Belarusian State Border Committee, a total of 60 people were detained, 39 of them were in Poland. The criminal group has been operating since the autumn of last year and transported refugees mainly from Iraq to Belarus, and then to Germany and the UK in transit through Poland. According to European law enforcement officials, the group members earned about 16m Euros on that activity.

It is noted that messengers were the main channel of search and subsequent communication with foreigners. The criminal group members recruited drivers, mostly Ukrainians, through Internet forums and social networks.

“One of the detainees, a Polish citizen, was the owner of a taxi service whose cars were used for illegal activities. The existence of a refugee transportation business has been repeatedly mentioned by Polish representatives of volunteer organisations. They claim that it is the smugglers who organise the route from East to West, attracting intermediaries in transit countries," the State Border Committee stressed.