Polish Border Guard Detains 8 Afghan Migrants Near Lithuania Border

Polish border guards have announced that during several separate operations along the border regions with Lithuania, 37 migrants were detained on charges of attempting to illegally enter the country, including eight Afghan nationals.

According to the released information, these incidents took place over the past weekend across multiple border areas. The largest detained group consisted of 24 individuals who were being transported by a Ukrainian citizen using a cargo truck through a temporary border crossing.

The Polish Border Guard added that all these individuals lacked the necessary legal documents for entry into Poland and were stopped within the border area. Some of the migrants had crossed the Lithuanian border on foot and were identified after entering Polish territory.

Among those detained, in addition to Afghan citizens, were individuals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Algeria. Polish authorities stated that after completing initial administrative procedures, all these individuals were handed over to Lithuanian officials.

The drivers and those involved in transporting the migrants were also arrested, facing charges of organizing and facilitating illegal migrant crossings, a crime that carries a potential prison sentence of up to eight years.

According to Polish law, individuals apprehended for attempting illegal entry may be transferred to detention centers or prisons following preliminary review, and their cases are processed through judicial procedures. In such cases, a minimum of six months imprisonment is possible, and after the court process concludes, in many instances, individuals are returned to their countries of origin, including Afghanistan.