The Prosecutor’s Office in Zamość has brought charges against 53-year-old Ramadan N., accusing him of participating in an organized criminal group and of organizing the illegal crossing of the Polish-Belarusian border by at least 160 foreign nationals. According to investigators, the Syrian and Turkish citizen is believed to have profited approximately $48,000 from the operation.
The spokesperson for the Nadbużański Border Guard Unit, Maj. Dariusz Sienicki, stated that Ramadan N. acted in collaboration with other members of the criminal group, organizing illegal border crossings into the territories of Poland, Germany, and Belarus between August 2022 and August 2023.
“The accused arranged the dates and conditions for picking up and transporting the migrants after they had illegally crossed the border, organizing their transport near the border with the Federal Republic of Germany. Communication and coordination were carried out via internet messengers,” the spokesperson said.
Money from smuggling
Investigators determined that drivers transporting the migrants were paid between $250 and $700 per person. Ramadan N. transferred funds for drivers, intermediaries, and individuals overseeing the transport through designated persons. The investigation showed that he made the illegal activity a permanent source of income, “earning” at least $48,000 in this way. During the group’s operation, the 53-year-old legally resided in Germany, where he was charged with financial fraud at the end of last year. He was imprisoned there and is currently serving a sentence.
The case was handled by the Border Guard from Sławatycze under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Zamość, which on Friday announced the conclusion of the investigation and the filing of an indictment with the District Court in Lublin.
The court confirmed in a conversation with the Polish Press Agency that the indictment against 53-year-old Ramadan N., a citizen of Syria and Turkey, had been received, but the date of the first hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Maj. Sienicki added that the remaining 12 members of the criminal group have already been sentenced by the court in Lublin to prison terms ranging from 6 months to 2 years and 6 months. The verdict was issued on March 27 this year and is final.