Poland’s Food Aid Scam: EU Cracks Down on First Fraud Case
Six people have been jailed in Poland after allegedly selling EU-funded food meant for the poor.
First Fraud Case for EU Prosecutors in Poland
For the first time since opening offices in Poland, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has filed charges in a major food aid fraud case.
Six suspects—four men and two women—are accused of abusing an EU-funded program designed to help the most vulnerable, including refugees and homeless people.
Food for Profit, Not the Poor
The case centers on a religious organization that received 2,500 tonnes of food worth €3.7 million. This food was meant to be given out for free.
Instead, prosecutors say the group sold large amounts of it to shops in Poland and even abroad—pocketing the profits.
Fake Papers, Real Money
The suspects are accused of forging documents and signatures to make it look like the aid had reached those in need.
They also received over €500,000 in logistics funding, meant for transporting and storing the food—money also allegedly misused.
Countrywide Police Operation
The investigation led to 34 police raids across cities including Kraków, Warsaw, Wrocław, and Poznań. Officers searched homes, warehouses, offices, and even a church run by the main suspect.
Legal Fallout and Frozen Assets
All six suspects are now in pre-trial detention for three months. Authorities have also frozen properties and company shares worth €470,000 to recover some of the stolen funds.
Loopholes Enabled the Scam
Investigators believe gaps in the distribution system helped the fraud go unnoticed. Refugees and homeless individuals don’t require social services referrals, which made it easier for false records to be created.
Sources: