Twenty‑four people, including citizens of Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and the Philippines, were arrested in a police operation that dismantled a criminal network forging documents to grant foreigners legal residence permits in Poland and the EU between 2020 and 2024.
Operation Overview
The Central Police Office and Border Guard, under the oversight of the Warsaw‑Praga District Prosecutor’s Office, dismantled an organized crime group that fabricated identity documents, fake employment letters and bogus addresses to secure Polish residence permits for non‑European migrants.
Scale of the Fraud
Investigators find the network operated from 2020 to 2024 and may have benefited up to 1,500 foreigners from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Turkey. Each forged permit was sold for 3,000 to 5,000 złoty.
Arrests and Evidence
Sixteen hundred officers seized 24 suspects, including a 52‑year‑old Polish citizen and a 39‑year‑old Ukrainian who are alleged leaders. Authorities confiscated mobile phones, laptops, stamps, extensive documentation and about 40,000 złoty in multiple currencies, plus a car worth roughly 120,000 złoty.
Legal Action and Charges
The Warsaw‑Praga District Prosecutor’s Office has charged the duo with participation in an organized crime group, leadership, and facilitating illegal residence. A judge granted temporary arrest; the remaining suspects face police supervision and a travel ban.
