Poland’s Interior Ministry has said that organised groups are using underground tunnels to facilitate illegal crossings from Belarus into Poland, with four such tunnels discovered so far this year along the eastern border.

The most recent tunnel was detected last week near the village of Narewka in eastern Poland. According to the Polish Border Guard, the tunnel’s entrance was located approximately 50 metres inside Belarus, while its exit emerged around 10 metres within Polish territory. The passage was about 1.5 metres high and ran beneath the border barrier and technical road.

Dozens detained after crossing

Electronic monitoring systems indicated that around 180 people may have used the tunnel. Polish authorities detained approximately 130 individuals shortly after they crossed into the country. Officials said the group included nationals from several Asian countries.

Border guards also detained two individuals accused of facilitating transport, described as a 69-year-old Polish citizen and a 49-year-old Lithuanian national. Authorities believe they were attempting to move those who crossed further west into Europe.

Earlier this week, the Border Guard confirmed that nine additional individuals who had passed through the same tunnel were also apprehended.

Officials cite organised methods

Deputy Interior Minister Czesław Mroczek told broadcaster RMF that the use of tunnels points to increasingly organised methods to bypass border controls. He said Poland’s border security measures had significantly reduced unauthorised crossings, leading smugglers to adopt alternative routes.

Officials added that surveillance systems are being upgraded to detect underground activity, including soil movement and vibrations near the border infrastructure.

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński stated that while people attempting to cross are involved in these activities, responsibility for enabling such crossings lies with Belarusian authorities, who Poland accuses of facilitating irregular migration.

Background to border tensions

Since 2021, Poland and the European Union have accused Belarus of encouraging migrants to attempt illegal crossings as part of a broader pressure campaign. In response, Poland has constructed physical barriers, deployed advanced monitoring systems, and introduced stricter migration policies, including temporary limits on asylum applications at the border.

Polish authorities say efforts to secure the frontier remain ongoing.