Polish border authorities have uncovered a covert underground tunnel used by scores of migrants to illegally cross from Belarus, marking one of the most significant incidents along the frontier this year. According to the Polish Border Guard, more than 180 migrants entered the country through the concealed passage, which was discovered on Thursday in a forested area near the Belarusian border.
Officials reported that approximately 130 of those who used the tunnel have already been detained, while the remaining individuals are still being sought. A large-scale search effort involving the army, police, and advanced electronic tracking systems is underway to locate the migrants who fled after the crossing.
The released footage shows a narrow tunnel carved through soil and tree roots, reinforced with wooden beams and metal supports. Measuring just 1.5 meters (five feet) in height, the passage forced migrants to crouch as they made their way underground. The entrance was located roughly 50 meters inside Belarusian territory, while the exit emerged about 10 meters from Poland’s border barrier.
This discovery highlights ongoing pressure along the Belarus–Poland border, where tensions have escalated since 2021. Poland, an EU member state, has repeatedly accused Belarus and its close ally Russia of orchestrating a migration crisis by directing people—mainly from the Middle East and Africa—to breach the EU’s external border. Both Minsk and Moscow deny any involvement.
The tunnel is the fourth such structure identified this year in the Podlaskie region, a hotspot for attempted crossings. Authorities also arrested two individuals—a 69-year-old Polish citizen and a 49-year-old Lithuanian—who allegedly arrived in the area to transport the migrants further into Poland.
In response to sustained pressure along the frontier, Poland began constructing a 180-kilometer (110-mile) border fence in 2022. Despite these efforts, the latest incident underscores the continued challenges faced by Polish and European security forces as they attempt to curb irregular migration and counter increasingly sophisticated methods used to circumvent border controls.
About The Author
