Tons of drugs, weapons and millions of zlotys. The bosses will spend many years in prison

There will be no change of sentences for four people sentenced to terms ranging from six years to 8.5 years in prison, including: for transporting several tons of marijuana from Spain and other drug crimes. While examining the defense lawyers' cassation appeals, the Supreme Court found them groundless, the Supreme Court press office informed PAP on Wednesday.

The trial in both instances concerned seven people accused of participating in an organized criminal group involved in large-scale drug production and trafficking. During the investigation conducted by the District Prosecutor's Office in Suwałki, the services seized almost 14 tons of drugs.

The international criminal group operated from 2014 to 2020 in Poland and, among others, in Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, Lithuania and Latvia.

The prosecutor presented a total of 283 charges against 37 suspects. They concerned management of an organized criminal group, participation in this group, marketing and participation in drug trafficking, laundering money derived from drug trafficking and arms trafficking.

According to the findings of the investigation, the group's activities included purchasing, transporting, producing and marketing significant amounts of drugs. In Poland, the group operated in the following voivodeships: Podlaskie, Warmian-Masurian, Masovian, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Pomeranian, Lower Silesian and Świętokrzyskie.

Criminals specialized in smuggling huge amounts of marijuana from Spain to Poland. It was established that they smuggled over 12.6 tons of this substance in 78 transports. They also produced over 900 kg of amphetamine in our country. During the investigation, approximately 200 kg of other narcotic substances were also seized.

Investigators also discovered several rooms used as warehouses for drugs and money. Money and other property belonging to the suspects in the amount of PLN 13.7 million was seized, as well as four vehicles equipped with specialized lockers for transporting drugs and money, encrypted means of communication, a pistol and a machine gun, ammunition and combat grenades.

In the main part of the case, seven people appeared in court. In February 2024, the District Court in Suwałki illegally sentenced them to terms ranging from two years and eight months to ten years in prison.

While examining the appeals, in December 2024, the Court of Appeal in Białystok slightly changed the sentences – the maximum penalties are 8.5 years and 6 years in prison and forfeiture of profits obtained from crimes in the amount of up to PLN 1.3 million.

Defense lawyers' cassation appeals regarding four people against whom the most severe sentences were passed were submitted to the Supreme Court. According to information obtained by PAP in this court, the cassation appeals were dismissed as clearly groundless. (PAP)

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