More than 180 illegal immigrants penetrated into Poland through a tunnel from Belarus

Photo: LETA

More than 180 illegal migrants crossed from Belarus into Poland through an underground tunnel, reported the country's border guard. This is already the fourth tunnel discovered by Polish border guards in 2025.

More than 180 illegal migrants crossed from Belarus into Poland through an underground tunnel dug in the area of the settlement of Narewka in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, which was discovered on Thursday, December 11, reported the Polish border guard. Its officers, along with military personnel and police, managed to detain more than 130 illegal immigrants, while the search for the others continues.

"The tunnel, several dozen meters long, was laid under a barrier and a technical road, and had a height of about 1.5 meters. Its entrance, hidden in the forest, was located about 50 meters from the Belarusian side of the border, and the exit was about 10 meters from the barrier on the Polish side," said Polish border guard spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andrzej Juźwiak.

According to him, it was learned through electronic monitoring systems that more than 180 foreigners had used the tunnel "in a short period of time." The majority of those detained are citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan, while people with passports from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh also entered the country.

The fourth tunnel in the region discovered in 2025

According to Polish authorities, the Podlaskie Border Guard has discovered four tunnels dug under the border with Belarus this year alone. This time, local law enforcement managed to detain not only the majority of the illegal immigrants but also two drivers who were likely supposed to transport the migrants to Western European countries. These include a 69-year-old Polish citizen and a 49-year-old Lithuanian citizen.

30,000 illegal border crossings per year from Belarus

According to Polish border guards, about 30,000 people attempt to illegally cross the border from Belarus to Poland each year. These figures have remained unchanged since 2021, despite the construction of meter-high steel walls, drones, and thermal imaging cameras.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that his government will adhere to the current anti-migration policy. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised the country support in protecting its external borders. In particular, she promised additional funding to EU member states bordering Russia and Belarus.