Polish Police Arrest 20 Over International Scheme Supplying Luxury Cars to Russia and Belarus

The Central Bureau of Investigation of the Polish Police (CBŚP) has detained 20 people in connection with an international group that illegally transferred around 600 luxury cars to Russia and Belarus in violation of EU sanctions, Orda.kz reports, citing The Insider.

The group operated in Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Germany, and other countries. BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Lexus, and Range Rover vehicles were purchased from dealerships and resold multiple times through shell companies to conceal their origin and complicate the transaction chain.

The cars, routed through front firms in Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, arrived in Russia and Belarus.

Investigators allege that participants in the scheme unlawfully received VAT refunds totaling more than 40 million zlotys (about €9 million). Fake invoices alone amounted to more than 17 million zlotys.

Three suspects have been charged with leading the group.

By a court decision, two of them have been placed under arrest. All defendants face charges of participating in an organized criminal group, money laundering, document forgery, and evading sanctions.

During searches, police seized expensive watches, jewelry, and cash. The Financial Inspectorate froze more than 10 million zlotys in bank accounts belonging to the suspects.

Under Polish law, the alleged crimes — including those classified as serious offenses — are punishable by at least five years in prison and heavy fines.