Law enforcement agencies in Poland and Ukraine conducted a coordinated operation against organized crime. As a result, 36 synthetic drug laboratories were dismantled and dozens of people were detained. Simultaneously, the Border Guard in Warsaw apprehended a Moldovan citizen suspected of years of human trafficking. In Małopolska, a dangerous drug smuggler wanted by the FBI was arrested; he had been hiding in Silesia while running a holiday cottage rental business.

Dismantling a Drug Empire

Dismantling of 36 laboratories and 74 warehouses by the Central Investigation Bureau of the Police and Ukrainian services with the support of Europol in Eastern Europe.

End of a Disabled Man's Ordeal

Arrest of a 51-year-old Moldovan man in Warsaw, who for 5 years forced a Russian man to beg in Poland.

FBI Wanted Smuggler in Police Custody

Małopolska headhunters captured a 57-year-old gang leader involved in drug trafficking, who was hiding in Silesia.

A multi-faceted success by Polish and Ukrainian law enforcement sheds new light on the scale of organized crime in Eastern Europe. The Central Investigation Bureau of the Police, in cooperation with Ukrainian police and Europol, carried out a massive operation targeting producers of psychotropic substances. During the action, 36 laboratories and 74 warehouses were dismantled, marking one of the most significant blows to the drug underworld in the region's history. The operation involved hundreds of searches, during which tons of precursors and finished synthetic drugs, such as mephedrone and amphetamine, were seized. Authorities emphasize that the scale of production was sufficient to flood the market with millions of commercial doses. Police cooperation between Poland and Ukraine has significantly intensified since 2022, resulting in the creation of joint investigative teams (JIT) dedicated to combating cross-border drug crime and arms smuggling.Simultaneously, Border Guard officers achieved success in the fight against the human trafficking trade. In Warsaw, a 51-year-old Moldovan citizen was detained, who for five years had forced a mobility-impaired Russian man to beg in many Polish cities. The victim was completely dependent on the perpetrator, who took all the money he collected. The prosecutor's office has charged the Moldovan man, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. During the arrest, cash and numerous SIM cards used to coordinate the operation were found on him. „During the arrest of the Moldovan man, over 8,000 zł, mobile phones, and a package of SIM cards were discovered.” — Mirosława AleksandrowiczIn the south of the country, the so-called headhunters from Małopolska tracked down and apprehended a 57-year-old member of an international gang. The man was wanted on two arrest warrants and was of interest to the American FBI for smuggling drugs from Spain to Poland. The criminal was caught in Silesia, where he was leading a seemingly quiet life, helping his partner in the tourism business. Modern operational techniques, including drones, were used for his arrest, allowing the operation to be carried out smoothly without risk to bystanders. 36 — dismantled synthetic drug laboratoriesLaboratories: 36, Warehouses: 74, Detained (network operation): 10, Exploited for 5 years: 1

Mentioned People

  • Mirosława Aleksandrowicz — Spokesperson for the Warmian-Masurian Branch of the Border Guard, informing about the arrest of the human trafficking perpetrator.