Polish Authorities Uncover Smuggling Tunnels from Belarus, Suspect Middle Eastern Militant Involvement

Smuggling Tunnels Discovered Under Polish-Belarusian Border

According to Главком: In 2025, Polish border guards discovered four underground tunnels running beneath the border with Belarus. According to border service reports, these passages were being used to smuggle migrants into the European Union. One tunnel, found near the village of Narewka in eastern Poland in mid-December, was used by approximately 180 migrants, primarily from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Most of these individuals were detained shortly after emerging on the Polish side.

The tunnel near Narewka was about 1.5 meters high, with its entrance on the Belarusian side concealed in a forest. Its construction, reinforced with concrete supports, indicates a significant level of planning and preparation. Officers from the Podlasie Border Guard Unit documented all four tunnels along the Belarusian border during 2025.

Possible Militant Group Involvement in Tunnel Construction

Security experts suspect that Middle Eastern militant groups may have been involved in constructing these tunnels. Specifically, it is considered plausible that Iran-backed factions like Hezbollah, which have extensive experience in building similar tunnels dating back to the early 2000s, could be responsible. Other potential actors named in the investigation include:

• Hamas in the Gaza Strip
• Various Kurdish militant groups
• Islamic State (ISIS)

The European Commission also plans to launch the EastInvest Facility initiative on February 26, which may help stabilize the regional situation. The discovery of these border tunnels is the latest evidence of the complex migration challenges facing Europe and the severe pressures on its border security agencies. This incident highlights the evolving tactics used by smuggling networks to exploit the EU's eastern frontier.

The discovery of these underground tunnels points to growing security threats at the European Union's external borders. It also underscores the critical importance of international cooperation in combating organized crime and illegal migration.

The planned EastInvest Facility initiative by the European Commission could represent a step toward improving regional stability and alleviating migration pressure on frontline member states.