Polish authorities have established a dedicated investigative team to examine claims that minors were recruited in Poland for sexual exploitation as part of the international network run by the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, TVP World reported on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
The National Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday the formation of “Investigation Team No. 5,” tasked with conducting preliminary inquiries into what prosecutors describe as “an organized criminal group of an international nature” operating between 2005 and 2018. The alleged group is said to have included Polish citizens and engaged in human trafficking by luring underage girls under false pretenses—promising modeling or fashion agency careers—before subjecting them to sexual abuse and exploitation.
Three senior prosecutors with extensive experience in organized crime and human trafficking cases have been assigned to lead the probe. Officials stressed that the current phase remains preliminary; a decision to launch a full criminal investigation will depend on the evidence uncovered during initial fact-finding.
The move follows the January 30, 2026, release by the US Justice Department of more than three million pages of documents, approximately 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images related to Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November 2025. Polish officials stated that portions of the newly disclosed materials—despite heavy redactions—contain references warranting scrutiny for possible Polish connections.
Separately, Poland’s Justice Ministry confirmed the creation of an inter-agency analytical task force chaired by Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek. The panel includes representatives from the prosecution service, interior ministry, security services, police, and other relevant bodies. Its mandate is to conduct a comprehensive review of the US-released files for any Polish dimension.
“It is our duty to provide a reliable and impartial explanation of all Polish aspects in the so-called Epstein affair,” Zurek said in a formal statement. “The Polish state must check whether crimes have taken place on the territory of the Republic of Poland and whether Polish citizens were involved in the case.”
The ministry indicated it will formally request access to any remaining classified or redacted US materials to ensure the review is thorough. Zurek emphasized that the effort aims to establish facts without prejudice and to determine if any criminal liability exists under Polish law.
The investigation also encompasses potential links between Epstein’s activities and Russian intelligence services, as signaled earlier this month by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Tusk stated that Polish authorities would examine any indications of foreign intelligence involvement, reflecting broader concerns about Epstein’s documented contacts with influential figures across politics, business, and intelligence circles.
Jeffrey Epstein, once a prominent financier with ties to high-profile individuals worldwide, was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges involving dozens of underage girls. He died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial, an event that sparked widespread controversy and conspiracy theories. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted in 2021 on related sex-trafficking charges and is serving a 20-year sentence.
The January 2026 document release—mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act—represents the largest single disclosure to date in the long-running scandal. It includes grand jury transcripts from earlier Florida proceedings, investigative reports, flight logs, contact lists, and other records. Victims’ advocates and survivors have criticized the materials as incomplete, heavily redacted, and falling short of full transparency promised by the legislation.
Poland’s decision to open a formal inquiry places it among a small number of European countries actively reviewing potential domestic links to Epstein’s network following the latest US disclosures. Other nations, including France and the United Kingdom, have previously investigated or prosecuted individuals connected to Epstein, while several Eastern European states have faced unconfirmed allegations of recruitment or transit routes.
The Polish probe highlights the enduring global repercussions of the Epstein case, nearly seven years after his death. With the statute of limitations potentially approaching for certain offenses committed in the 2005–2018 period, authorities face time pressure to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and determine whether any actionable crimes occurred on Polish soil.
As the preliminary phase begins, Polish officials have appealed for any victims or witnesses with relevant information to come forward. The Justice Ministry has emphasized that the investigation will proceed impartially and in full compliance with due process, aiming to clarify Poland’s role—if any—in one of the most notorious sex-trafficking scandals of recent decades.
