"Detentions are likely to continue," said the Minister of Interior.
Employees of the Polish Border Guard dismantled a criminal group involved in human trafficking and money laundering. This was reported by Interior Minister Marcin Kerwiński.
According to the head of the Polish Ministry of Interior, eight people were detained. Minister Kerwiński emphasized that the border guard in Elbląg has been investigating the human trafficking case since 2024.
"This concerns an organized criminal group that earned money through human trafficking, smuggling people into Poland, often with the aim of further exploiting them in labor slavery. The situation is developing. Eight people have been detained. Detentions are likely to continue," said the Minister of Interior.
It is reported that by this time, six of the detainees have been placed under temporary arrest. The criminal group mainly consisted of citizens of Poland, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. As part of the operation, 17 searches were conducted, and assets worth over 7.5 million zlotys were seized.
Currently, 50 victims have been identified, mostly from Latin American countries. All of them are receiving psychological support.
Statistics on human trafficking in Poland in recent years show significant fluctuations in the number of identified victims, with forced labor and sexual exploitation being the main forms of exploitation. It is believed that the actual number of victims is significantly higher than the official statistics, as many cases remain undetected. Poland is both a country of origin and a destination and transit country for victims of human trafficking.
Poland ranks at Level 1 in the U.S. Department of State's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, indicating full compliance with the minimum standards for combating trafficking.
