On November 17‑18 2025, 26,117 officers carried out a nationwide sweep that led to the arrest of 1,725 people, including 158 foreigners, in pursuit of wanted individuals and missing persons.
Operation Scale and Coordination
The two‑day action, carried out on 17‑18 November 2025, involved 26,117 police officers from across Poland and was coordinated with the Border Guard. The primary goal was to apprehend persons listed on fugitive warrants and court orders issued by Polish courts and prosecutors.
Arrest Breakdown
In total, 1,725 individuals were detained. Of these, 158 were foreigners, 146 of whom were wanted by Polish authorities. Among the foreign detainees were 91 Ukrainians, 13 Georgians, 7 Belarusians, and 35 nationals of other countries. Additionally, 12 persons were detained under European arrest warrants and Interpol Red Notices.
Within the broader operation, 54 Polish citizens and 12 foreigners were arrested for crimes or to meet court processes. Six missing persons were also located and taken into custody.
Border Guard Legal Checks
During the sweep, 93 individuals were identified whose legal status was in question. The police forwarded applications to the Border Guard for decisions to compel their return to their countries of origin.
Warrant Types and Legal Framework
Fugitive warrants are issued when all other methods fail to locate a suspect. Warrant of appearance requires a sentenced person to report to a penal institution, while court or prosecutor orders to determine a residence are used to establish the whereabouts of individuals required for ongoing legal proceedings.
Crime Offences and Notable Cases
Detained suspects faced charges ranging from rape and drug offences to participation in organised crime groups and distribution of large quantities of narcotics and psychoactive substances. A highlighted case involved an Italian citizen sought for possession of cannabis, hash, cocaine, mefedron, ecstasy, and MDPV, who had previously evaded law enforcement in Colombia and Chile and held a 15‑year stadium ban in Italy.
Overall National Operation History 2025
The 17‑18 November operation was the third nationwide sweep in 2025. In earlier actions on 13‑14 February and 9‑10 June, police arrested a total of 4,766 people, including 515 foreigners. The 17‑18 November operation alone accounted for 1,725 arrests, including 158 foreigners.
Mazowieckie Police Participation
Police from the Masovian region participated in the 17‑18 November sweep, capturing 140 wanted individuals, nine of whom were foreigners. Cooperation with the Central Cybercrime Office and the Central Investigative Office enabled the use of advanced technology to identify hideouts and group sites, leading to three requests to remove illegally residing foreigners.