Фото: KAS
Poland’s Border Guard and the National Revenue Administration have dismantled an air smuggling group. The operation was carried out by officers of the Nadbużański Border Guard Unit and Lublin tax authorities.
According to border officials, the group transported 160 weather balloons carrying cigarettes from Belarus to Poland.
The group operated from May 2025 to April 2026 in the Lublin, Podlaskie and Mazowieckie voivodeships.
A 34-year-old Belarusian citizen was caught in the act. He attempted to flee and was detained after a chase near Biała Podlaska. The man has been charged with leading an organised criminal group. A court has ordered his detention for three months. He has also been charged with smuggling at least 240,000 packs of cigarettes from Belarus with a total value of about 4.5 million zlotys (more than 1 million euros). The charges also include violations of sanctions and air traffic regulations.
The suspect has partially admitted guilt.
The investigation is ongoing. Further arrests are possible.