The Warsaw – Prague territory Attorney's Office has directed 11 people to the territory Court in Warsaw, including 8 Ukrainian citizens and 3 Polish citizens. The defendants are to be liable for directing and participating in an organized criminal group aimed at reaping the benefits of facilitating illegal entry and residence in the territory of the Republic of Poland. The case, which lasted more than 2 years, revealed a complex criminal network that operated on a large scale.
Crime scale: over 1,600 files and 70 witnesses
The investigation conducted by the officers of the Warsaw – Modlin Border defender Service and the Department for Combating Organized Criminal Crime of the Management Board in Olsztyn led to the securing of over 1,600 files of proceedings with the Mazowieckie Provincial Office in Warsaw. These papers afraid granting permits to foreigners for temporary stay and work in Poland. Over 70 witnesses were besides interviewed during the investigation, which confirms the complexity and degree of the group's activities.
Allegations: from group management to threats and paper forgery
The defendants heard allegations of participation in an organized criminal group (Article 258 §1 of the Code), and 1 of the Polish citizens of Ukrainian origin was additionally accused of directing this group (Article 258 §3 of the Code) and of threats of beating and imprisonment (Article 245 of the Code). In addition, the members of the group were to let foreigners to stay in Poland against regulations, issuing false papers and drawing on the benefits of property (Article 264a §1 of the Code).
Group activities: who benefited from illegal services?
The group operated from 2017 to 2019, allowing the illegal stay in Poland of citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, as well as countries specified as Ghana, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Georgia and Morocco. The scale of criminal activities was enormous, and the group made crucial amounts.
Preventive measures and property safeguards
In the course of the investigation, strict preventive measures were applied, including temporary arrest against 7 people. The property was besides secured for an amount exceeding PLN 120 000. Of the 11 accused, 8 people confessed to the alleged actions and voluntarily surrendered to the punishment, including the group leader – a Polish citizen of Ukrainian origin.
What's next?
The case went to the Warsaw territory Court, where the defendants will face justice. This process will substance not only to the accused, but besides to the migration control strategy in Poland. The detection and elimination of this criminal group is an crucial step in the fight against illegal immigration and organised crime.
Summary
The investigation, which lasted over 2 years, revealed the activity of an organized criminal group, which made it on a massive scale easier for foreigners to stay illegally in Poland. Thanks to the cooperation of the Border defender and CBŚP, 11 people were brought to justice, and crucial financial resources were secured. This case shows how crucial the effective fight against organised crime and illegal immigration is.
Continued here:
Prosecutor's Office directed the indictment against a Polish-Ukrainian criminal group organising illegal migration
