On 26 October 2026, an international conference dedicated to the cooperation of law enforcement agencies in combating illegal migration and the smuggling of people and goods along the Balkan route began at the Silesian Province Police Headquarters in Katowice. The event, opened by Senior Inspector Mariusz Krzystyniak, Commander of the Silesian Province Police in Katowice, inaugurates a project aimed at increasing the effectiveness of countering transnational crime.
Participants and thematic scope
The meeting took place in the auditorium named after Silesian Province Police Assistant Jan Kali. The conference is attended by representatives of government and local authorities, Polish police units, Border Guard officers, and the National Fiscal Administration. Present are also representatives of the prosecutor's office, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the Silesian Provincial Office, and the Marshal's Office of the Silesian Voivodeship.
The international character of the event is underscored by the participation of police officers and officials from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, and Austria. Among the experts and speakers are representatives of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency FRONTEX and Europol. Guests include, among others, Brigadier General Andrzej Jakubaszek, Commander of the Racibórz branch of the Silesian Border Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Lichý, Deputy Commander of the Moravian-Silesian Province Police in Ostrava, Lieutenant Colonel Roman Bilský, Commander of the Slovak Republic Provincial Police in Žilina, and Senior Inspector Radosław Kacprzak, First Deputy Commander of the Silesian Province Police in Katowice.
During the lectures, current migration trends, methods of operation of organized criminal groups, and the use of new technologies in the smuggling process are discussed. Participants also focus on issues related to hybrid threats, cyber reconnaissance, information exchange, and the coordination of operational activities. Particular emphasis was placed on cooperation at the Polish-Czech and Polish-Slovak borders.
Practical dimension of cooperation
The conference is not limited to the exchange of theoretical knowledge. As part of the project, a practical training titled "Transborder patrol and pursuit tactics in open and urban terrain" has been planned. The exercises will be conducted in two locations: at the Police Academy in Katowice and at the Silesia Ring track in Kamień Śląski. The aim of such activities is to refine the skills of officers and methods of coordination between various services.
Organizers emphasize that joint training and the exchange of experience allow for increasing the effectiveness of fighting transnational crime, which is of significant importance for state security.