Counterintelligence legend - the man who stood up to the Polish MAFIA - Jarosław Pieczonka "Miami"

Pieczonka describes the full recruitment process: (1) covert observation phase – the case officer analyzes the soldier's behavior under pressure, his contacts, past; (2) first recruitment interview – the officer demonstrates full knowledge of the candidate (in his case: 'he knew I was being pursued, that I was in deep trouble'); (3) loyalty test – the candidate is asked to admit difficulties, and against expectations he declares satisfaction with the service; (4) assignment of a pseudonym ('Czarny') and basic intelligence tasks. After completing basic service, contact is not broken – Pieczonka was ordered to join professional service and continue the tasks.

Pieczonka inherited the 'surveillance file' on Nikos from other policemen. After several months of analyzing the gathered information, his boss received a directive from Warsaw to transform it into an 'operational investigation' – i.e., an active phase aimed at collecting evidence and making an arrest. The work was interrupted by the execution in 'Las Vegas' (a brothel) on the night of April 24, 1998. Pieczonka ironically notes that the underworld rejoiced at this death and blocked any help – 'they didn't want to pass on any information to us'. Only after some time did they begin to recruit agents capable of talking.

He distinguishes two phenomena: (1) 'ordinary fala' – hierarchy, customs, group pressure that everyone goes through and that builds mental resilience; (2) 'sadistic fala' – drunk soldiers dragging younger ones out of beds, pouring cold water, beating. Pieczonka, despite personal harm, bears no grudge: 'they prepared me for a tough, uncompromising professional life, which they had no idea about'. He met his former tormentors after 30 years – one of them went to a psychologist before the meeting and cried, not knowing what to expect. Pieczonka received them without revenge, even though as a policeman he could have retaliated.

Pieczonka categorically states: 'Edyta Skotarczak was not treated as a qualified source – this is very important. She knew who I was, the milieu knew, and they consciously allowed me into their circle.' He describes this relationship as an advanced intelligence game: 'I deceived, you deceived – the question is who deceived better'. The information obtained from her was not groundbreaking, but it provided a valuable picture of the entire milieu and the relations within it.