Criminal group dismantled in Lower Silesia. State losses counted in millions

The District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra has submitted to the court an indictment against ten perpetrators of fiscal offenses related to trading in cigarettes and tobacco without Polish excise tax markings, as well as offenses involving possession of psychotropic substances. – Eight of the defendants were accused of acting as part of an organized criminal group involved in purchasing and selling cigarettes without Polish excise tax markings, as well as committing fiscal offenses that resulted in a reduction of excise tax and VAT by a total amount of no less than PLN 6,133,905 and exposed the public-law receivable to a reduction of no less than PLN 992,094 – explains Ewa Węglarowicz-Makowska from the Jelenia Góra District Prosecutor’s Office.

Investigators established that the group operated from 2017 until December 2023, mainly in Lower Silesia. Products purchased in various locations across Poland were then sold in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Adrian S. was charged with leading an organized criminal group, a fiscal offense involving the trade in cigarettes without excise tax, as well as possession of significant quantities of psychotropic substances and their precursors. The prosecutor said: – Nearly 47 grams of cocaine and several dozen ecstasy tablets were found on him. In addition, acting jointly and in agreement with another suspect, they possessed nearly one kilogram of amphetamine and six kilograms of pseudoephedrine tablets.

Two other perpetrators were charged with fiscal offenses related to storing and transporting cigarettes without excise tax.

The indictment is the result of cooperation between the District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra and the Border Guard post in Zgorzelec.

The perpetrators were arrested in April 2022 and then in June 2024. The leader of the criminal group, Adrian S., had been hiding and was wanted under an arrest warrant. He was detained in the Czech Republic and subsequently extradited to Poland pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant. He is currently being held in pretrial detention.

The remaining perpetrators are subject to non-custodial preventive measures, including police supervision, bail and a ban on leaving the country.

The suspects’ property was secured, including cash, vehicles and valuable items with a total value of more than PLN 1 million and nearly EUR 200,000.

The offenses committed by the defendants are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.