Polish border guards reported the detention of four migrants who illegally crossed from Lithuania into Poland on foot on February 6. The migrants, identified as two Somali and two Ethiopian nationals, were found without any documentation allowing legal entry into Poland. Shortly after, a Lithuanian citizen was apprehended for allegedly arriving by car to pick up these migrants, intending to smuggle them further into Europe.

The arrested migrants have been sent back to Lithuania and handed over to Lithuanian border authorities. Meanwhile, the detained Lithuanian faces a potential sentence of up to 8 years in prison for his involvement in the smuggling operation. This incident adds to the growing concern over illegal migration and human trafficking along the border, as Polish authorities emphasize their commitment to countering these activities.

So far this year, Polish border guards have returned over 250 migrants to Lithuania. The number of detentions related to human traffickers and organizers of illegal migration near the Lithuanian border is nearing fifty, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in managing the issue of illegal immigration in the region.