Nearly 500 People Have Attempted to Enter Poland with Forged Visas and Other Fake Documents So Far This Year
Key Takeaways
1. In the first half of 2024, a total of 497 people attempted to enter Poland using fake documents.
2. Most of these individuals had forged visas, while others possessed counterfeit ID cards and passports.
3. Ukrainian nationals constituted the largest group found with forged documents during this period.
The number of foreigners attempting to enter Poland with forged visas, ID cards, and passports has surged this year, raising concerns about irregular migration.
Data from the Polish Border Guard Headquarters indicate that in the first six months of 2024, 497 individuals tried to enter Poland using fake documents. This marks a significant increase compared to the same period last year, which saw only 100 such attempts.
According to Rzeczpospolita, of the 497 detected this year, 255 held fake Schengen visas, 115 had forged ID cards, and the rest had fake passports. Additionally, 331 of these individuals were found with Polish documents. Some were also discovered with identity cards or passports from Greece, Spain, Romania, the UK, and Bulgaria.
Ukrainians Are the Most Detained for Holding Fake Documents
While Syrians were the most frequently detained for holding fake documents in the first half of 2023, Ukrainians have taken this spot in the first half of 2024. Many Ukrainian nationals were found with illegal visas.
Monika Szpunar from the Silesian Border Guard Unit explained to Rzeczpospolita that the documents are either entirely forged or authentic but stolen and used by someone else. She noted that some individuals presented Polish passports but could not speak a full sentence in Polish.
"Either they are completely forged documents or authentic, only belonging to another person from whom they were previously stolen, for example. Then the foreigner, using them, counts on similarity and, in this way, tries to cross the border."
Monika Szpunar, Silesian Border Guard Unit
Polish Officers Discover 2,750 Fake Documents Ready for Shipment
Polish officers uncovered approximately 2,750 fake documents in an apartment, ready for sale on the black market, valued at over €3 million. The documents were prepared for shipment to recipients worldwide. The black market prices for these documents vary, with some costing several thousand euros. A Ukrainian woman suspected of leading the operation has been arrested.