In Poland, a customs officer helped smuggle sanctioned goods into Belarus

According to ‘European Pravda’, this has been reported by Polsat News.

The case concerns the activities of an organised criminal group which is believed to have operated from 19 June 2025 to 21 April 2026 in the vicinity of the border crossing points at Kukuryky, Koroshyn and Terespol.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the group was involved in transporting goods subject to sanctions or export restrictions to Belarus. The illegal activities were allegedly carried out via the road border crossing in Kukuryki. A key role in the case was reportedly played by 29-year-old Magdalena W., an employee of the Customs and Fiscal Service.

According to investigators, the woman was to facilitate the transport of goods subject to sanctions without them being inspected at the border. The criminals were to use two sets of transport documents. One – a forgery – was presented to the Polish authorities and indicated the transport of foodstuffs such as sweets, coffee or beer.

The second set of documents was to contain the actual list of goods, including agricultural machinery parts, car parts and other items subject to sanctions.

Magdalena W. has been charged with participation in an organised criminal group, customs smuggling and the export of goods subject to non-tariff regulation.

In addition, the prosecution accuses her of obtaining financial gain totalling at least 162,500 zlotys. The money was to be handed over “in exchange for not taking control measures” regarding shipments bound for Belarus.

During a search of the premises occupied by the employee, investigators seized 385,000 zlotys and 1,990 euros in cash.

At the request of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin, the Lublin-West District Court ordered Magdalena W. to be remanded in custody for a period of three months.

As for the other suspects, including, in particular, transport company owners and customs agency employees, non-custodial preventive measures have been applied: financial guarantees ranging from 40,000 to 60,000 zlotys, police supervision and travel bans.

A total of six people have been detained in connection with the case. The prosecution emphasises that the investigation is ongoing and is not disclosing further details at this stage.

Participation in an organised criminal group carries a sentence of up to eight years’ imprisonment. A public official receiving financial gain for breaking the law is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years. In turn, the export of goods subject to sanctions carries a penalty of imprisonment for a term of not less than three years.

Source: European Pravda