Ukrainian driver arrested after police chase for carrying 9 Iraqi migrants in his car

Polish police have detained a Ukrainian driver who carried nine Iraqi citizens in his car. He was caught after a police chase in Treszczotki village (Podlaskie Voivodeship).

Shortly before noon on Wednesday (December 8), a police patrol flagged down a Mazda for road check, but the driver only accelerated and started to get away. Only after more than 10 kilometres or so, in a village of Treszczotki near Bielsk Podlaski, were the police able to cut the escaping vehicle in.

"It turned out it was a 35-year-old Ukrainian. The man was carrying Iraqis who had earlier illegally crossed the border with Belarus. Three of them were found in the boot of the car," said Tomasz Krupa, spokesman for Bielsk Podlaski Police.

Migrants were offered warm meal

"The driver has been placed in police detention. He's been charged with aiding illegal border crossing and ignoring a road check. He will also respond for carrying too many passengers," Krupa said.

The migrants were taken to the police station, where they were provided with warm food and water. Two men received medical assistance, while the rest were handed over to Border Guard officers.

"Since the start of the migrant crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border, the police in Podlaskie region have detained 330 people for aiding illegal border crossing. The drivers tried to transport nearly 1,400 people," Tomasz Krupa added.