{"id":161382,"date":"2025-10-24T14:22:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T11:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/161382\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"lithuania-mulls-aviation-threat-charges-over-belarusian-cigarette-smuggling-balloons","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/161382\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania mulls aviation threat charges over Belarusian cigarette-smuggling balloons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (LRT)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

October 24, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>Lithuania’s National Security Commission discussed potential criminal liability in connection with recent airspace violations by cigarette-smuggling balloons launched from Belarus, Vilmantas Vitkauskas of the National Crisis Management Center has told LRT Radio<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incursions of unauthorized balloons threaten civil aviation, he said in an apparent reference to reports of disruptions in the operations of the Vilnius Airport this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combating smuggling by air would require a set of comprehensive measures, such as diplomatic efforts, pressure on Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka’s regime and threats of border closure, Vitkauskas noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official added that Belarus should respond, as smuggling on this scale would be impossible without the involvement of Belarusian authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rustamas Liubajevas, head of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, said discussions on stricter penalties for smugglers are ongoing. The interior ministry has already submitted draft amendments to the Criminal Code for interdepartmental approval, introducing liability for threats to civil aviation as well as for dangerous smuggling, the official noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the start of 2025, some 80 percent of smuggled cigarettes have reportedly arrived in Lithuania from Belarus by weather balloons or drones. Lithuania authorities seized more than 1.1 million packs of cigarettes delivered by air, including 800,000 packs delivered by balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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