{"id":108139,"date":"2024-10-06T21:23:34","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T18:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/108139\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"cigarette-smugglers-launch-600-weather-balloons-into-lithuania-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/108139\/","title":{"rendered":"Cigarette smugglers launch 600 weather balloons into Lithuania in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Lithuanian State Border Guard Service)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

October 6, Pozirk. <\/em><\/strong>Since the start of 2024, Lithuanian border guards have intercepted more than 70 of some 600 weather balloons carrying smuggled Belarusian cigarettes, Giedrius Mi\u0161utis of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service has told BNS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this week, Rustamas Liubajevas in charge of the border service asked the Lithuanian interior ministry for permission to use firearms to down balloons flying into the country from Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intrusions from Belarus increased from 117 in August to 250 in September, he said. He was particularly concerned about hot air balloons used for smuggling cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weather balloons gain an altitude of 2\u20135 km and can reportedly carry about 1,000 cigarette packs each. Such objects cannot be detected crossing the border and Lithuanian border guards have no means of stopping them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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