Polish Border Authorities Uncover Secret Tunnel from Belarus Used for Illegal Migration

Polish border authorities have uncovered a covert tunnel running beneath the border with Belarus, which was reportedly utilized by migrants attempting to gain unauthorized entry into the European Union. According to official statements, more than 130 foreign nationals were apprehended during the investigation surrounding the discovery of the tunnel. Authorities are actively searching for additional individuals believed to have used this route.

In the course of the operation, officials took into custody two suspected human traffickers: a 69-year-old Polish citizen and a 49-year-old national of Lithuania. The majority of the detained migrants were identified as citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan, with other detainees originating from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

The tunnel, as described by the Polish Border Guard, measured several meters in length and stood approximately 1.5 meters high. Its concealed entrance was located within a forest on the Belarusian side of the border, while the exit was situated just ten meters from Poland's official border barrier. The discovery was made possible through the use of electronic surveillance equipment. Authorities estimate that the tunnel has facilitated the illegal crossing of at least 180 individuals into Poland.

This incident marks the fourth tunnel of its kind found along the Poland-Belarus border this year, highlighting ongoing challenges in securing the EU's eastern frontier. Polish officials have repeatedly accused Belarusian authorities of enabling the organized movement of migrants from regions experiencing crisis situations to the EU's external borders.

Recent figures from the EU border agency Frontex indicate that irregular migration into the European Union has decreased by approximately 25% compared to the previous year. Between January and the end of November, authorities registered 166,900 unauthorized entries, down from the same period in 2024. While migration via the central Mediterranean route to Italy and Malta has remained relatively stable, significant reductions have been observed on the Canary Islands, the Balkan route, and the eastern Mediterranean pathway.

Despite the overall decrease in irregular migration, the number of fatalities remains high. According to United Nations data cited by Frontex, more than 1,700 people have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea since the beginning of the year.

The central Mediterranean route remains the most heavily used, with 63,200 migrants detected by border officials up to November, a figure only slightly lower than the previous year. The second most frequented migration path into the EU is the eastern Mediterranean, where nearly 42,200 attempted entries have been recorded, representing a 29% decline from the previous year. The West Africa migration route has seen a substantial 60% reduction in numbers, while crossings on the western Mediterranean route to Spain have increased by 15%, with almost 18,000 migrants, primarily from Algeria, Somalia, and Morocco, attempting the journey.

On the West Balkan route, authorities recorded 11,900 illegal border crossings, a 43% decrease from the previous year, with the majority of migrants originating from Turkey, Syria, and Afghanistan. The EU's eastern border, including the Poland-Belarus corridor, reported 10,500 attempted entries, mostly by Ukrainian and Somali nationals, reflecting a 37% reduction year-on-year.

These developments underscore the persistent complexity of managing migration flows at the external borders of the European Union and the ongoing efforts by authorities to counter organized illegal entry and ensure border security.