A major joint operation between the Warmia-Masuria Police and the Border Guard has successfully dismantled an organized criminal group mediating the illegal employment of foreigners across Poland. This extensive investigation, which began at the turn of 2025 and 2026, has resulted in the detention of six individuals and administrative proceedings against over a hundred foreign workers.
Inspector Mirosław Elszkowski, provincial police commander, emphasized the scale of the bust, stating it is “an unprecedented case in the region.” He detailed the outcome of the raids.
The case originated when officers from the District Police Headquarters in Iława identified potential irregularities in a local company acting as a recruitment intermediary. Preliminary findings suggested the operation was a front for a sophisticated fraud scheme.
The group allegedly provided foreigners – primarily from Colombia – with forged medical certificates and false documents confirming their status as students at universities in Gdańsk and Warsaw. These forged papers allowed employers to bypass strict labor regulations, creating a facade of legal employment, according to police.
As Brigadier General Daniel Wojtaszkiewicz, commander of the Border Guard in the Warmia-Masuria region, noted: “They were mainly Colombians, Cubans, Venezuelans, Guatemalans, Moldovans or Ukrainians. Foreigners holding a false certificate of entry into studies. At the time of their acquisition, they were not on Polish territory. They worked in workplaces in the voivodeship.”
On Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2026, a massive coordinated strike was launched across three voivodeships. The operation involved the Provincial Police Headquarters in Olsztyn, counter-terrorism units, the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime, and the Human Trafficking Department.
“We detained six people across three voivodeships. Four were remanded into custody, and two were placed under supervision. The whole procedure consisted of entrepreneurs from the Iława district achieving the goal of employing foreigners in workplaces based on false certificates,” Inspector Mirosław Elszkowski said.
During the searches of dozens of residential and business premises, officers seized laptops, phones, data carriers, and approximately PLN 150,000 in various currencies.
The Border Guard inspected nearly 200 foreigners, including citizens of Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Peru, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Moldova, and Ukraine. The results were stark: 105 foreigners were found to be working without the required permits, and three Colombian citizens were found to be staying in Poland without any legal documentation.
Administrative proceedings have now been initiated to oblige these individuals to return to their countries of origin.
Legal actions
The six detainees, aged 21 to 49, face serious charges including participation in an organized criminal group, document forgery, and facilitating illegal stays. Under Polish law, simply participating in a criminal group carries a penalty of six months to eight years in prison.
At the request of the District Prosecutor in Iława, the court has placed four suspects under temporary arrest for three months, while two others remain under police supervision. Authorities have signaled that the case is still developing and “further arrests are possible.”
