For many inhabitants of the Polish and Ukrainian borderland, the border crossing point is the core or only source of income. Day to day, both Poles and Ukrainians queue long hours to bring oil, alcohol, and cigarettes to the EU territory. Due to the price discrepancies, the cigarettes are usually sold to crime organizations who disseminate the items throughout the whole community. Everyday custom officers confiscate thousands of cigarette packages and other goods hidden in cars.
Polish border marker
Ukranian driver waits to enter Poland
Ukranian couple caught with illegal cigarettes hand over the contraband to Polish border guards
Polish border police search for illegal contraband coming from Ukraine
Ukranians queue to enter Poland
View of border from Polish main road
Cars queue to enter Poland
Polish border guards find illegal cigarettes hidden in car
Polish security guards randomly search vehicles on Polish border
Ukranians queue to cross Polish border
A single day of confiscated contraband which will later be destroyed