Investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office
CBA officers have detained another person as part of an investigation concerning members of a religious group suspected of the dishonest sale of food intended for refugees and people in need. The procedural activities were carried out on the order of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
On 21 January 2026, acting at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, officers from the Regional Office of the CBA in Łódź detained another individual in Lower Silesia. This is the result of an investigation into members of a religious organization suspected of the dishonest distribution of food intended for the most vulnerable individuals. The investigation is being conducted by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
2,500 tons of food from European funds
According to the investigators’ findings, the religious group under investigation received 2,500 tons of food worth more than EUR 3.7 million (PLN 15.8 million) under the European-funded food aid programme for 2021–2027. The labelling on the food products clearly indicated that they were not intended for sale. The food items were to be distributed free of charge to people affected by poverty and social exclusion.
Food deliveries were carried out by the National Support Centre for Agriculture (KOWR) under an EU programme co-financed at 90% by the European Social Fund Plus. KOWR acted as an intermediary and the entity responsible for settling accounts under the food aid programme. Documentation shows that the religious organization also received EU funds to cover administrative, transport, and storage costs. The value of the funds allocated for this purpose was calculated at more than EUR 500,000 (PLN 2.2 million).
Illegal sale
The evidence gathered indicates that the religious organization sold part of the food received for profit. Labelled food products ended up in retail outlets in Poland and abroad. In accordance with the objectives of the European-funded food aid programme, the items were to be provided free of charge to eligible persons, i.e. those affected by poverty, social exclusion, as well as refugees.
Investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office
The investigation in this case was initiated in April 2025. At the end of May 2025, the case was taken over by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice.
In July 2025, acting on the order of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, police officers detained six individuals and searched the homes, offices, and warehouses belonging to the detainees, as well as the premises of the religious organization’s parish. Locations where food from the aid programme had been illegally sold were also searched.
A prosecutor from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office brought charges against the detainees — four men and two women — of participation in an organized criminal group, fraud, and document forgery. On 17 July 2025, the court, at the prosecutor’s request, ordered pre-trial detention for all suspects.
CBA Press Team
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