Underground tunnel found at Poland–Belarus border
Underground tunnel beneath the Poland–Belarus border (Photo: Polish Border Guard Service)
Polish authorities had discovered an underground tunnel at the Belarusian border, used to smuggle more than 180 foreigners into Poland, Border Guard Service announced on Dec. 12.
The tunnel was found on Dec. 11 near the village of Narewka in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The officials said it measured about 1.5 meters high and stretched for several dozen meters, allowing people to move through it comfortably.
Electronic surveillance showed over 180 people passed through the tunnel in a short time. Authorities have detained 130 of them and continue searching for anyone else involved in the illegal crossings.
Most of those arrested are citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Two drivers, a 69-year-old Pole and a 49-year-old Lithuanian, were also held on charges of transporting migrants toward Western Europe.
“This is the fourth tunnel under the border with Belarus discovered this year by officers of the Podlaskie Border Guard Unit,” the statement added.
“Physical and electronic security measures along this section allow for immediate response to any attempted violations of the state border.”
On Sept. 12, Poland has halted traffic at all border crossings with Belarus in response to joint Russian-Belarus military exercises near the border. On Nov. 17, Poland reopened two crossings.
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