Poland inspects over 70 companies on suspicion of Ukrainian grain fraud
Photo: Poland is inspecting more than 70 companies (Getty Images)
The Polish prosecutor's office is inspecting over 70 companies suspected of grain fraud with Ukrainian grain. These companies may have imported thousands of tons of grain into Poland, concealing its origin and intended use, according to Rzeczpospolita.
The Prosecutor's Office in Rzeszów has reported that the criminal investigation into the Ukrainian grain fraud in Poland involves 75 companies. Seventeen individuals have already been notified of suspicion.
"The investigation involves companies registered in Poland. There are no Ukrainian companies among them. The suspects are mainly Polish citizens, but there are also Ukrainian and Estonian citizens," said Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Dorota Sokołowska-Mach.
According to the investigation, these companies imported thousands of tons of grain into Poland, concealing its origin and intended use.
Technical grain can be used for producing ethanol or as a bio-component for biofuel, but it was immediately sold for flour production after being imported.
Rzeczpospolita reports that among those companies who bought this grain were well-known Polish flour producers.
The agency writes that the EU's elimination of duties on agricultural imports from Ukraine in 2022 led to uncontrolled imports of cheap grain and rapeseed into Poland. The goods were purchased by intermediaries directly at the border and sold in Poland as Polish.
This led to farmers' protests. They believe that Ukrainian grain caused the collapse of domestic prices in Poland and that local producers are forced to operate at a loss.
At the same time, we reported that at a Polish farmers' protest on February 20, slogans were spotted calling for Vladimir Putin to "restore order in Ukraine and Brussels." Next to the poster was a Soviet Union flag.
