{"id":171477,"date":"2026-01-13T17:11:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T14:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/171477\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"lithuania-arrests-six-suspects-over-smuggling-of-belarusian-cigarettes-by-air","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/171477\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania arrests six suspects over smuggling of Belarusian cigarettes by air"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Lithuanian State Border Guards Service)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

January 13, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>Criminal intelligence officers from the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service arrested six individuals yesterday on suspicion of being part of a gang smuggling cigarettes from Belarus using weather balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Border guards have seized 7,500 packs of Belarusian cigarettes, two vehicles, cash, cell phones and SIM cards from Lithuanian and Belarusian mobile operators during searches of the suspects’ homes and vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arrested, aged between 25 and 46, reside in Vilnius as well as the Vilnius and \u0160al\u010dininkai districts. They are currently held at a pre-trial detention center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the start of 2026, Lithuania has intercepted seven cigarette-smuggling weather balloons launched from Belarus. Law enforcers seized 24,000 packs of illegally imported cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Lithuania intercepted 635 balloons and 59 drones used to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus into Lithuania, according to the State Border Guard Service. Last year, 171 people were arrested in Lithuania on suspicion of involvement in smuggling by air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balloons have been a source of tensions between Lithuania and Belarus, prompting Vilnius to close the border for three weeks last fall and suspend operations at Vilnius International Airport on several occasions. In early December, Vilnius declared an \u201cextreme situation,\u201d a low-level emergency, in response to what it called \u201ca hybrid attack from Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarettes cost an equivalent of around \u20ac1 at stores in Belarus and are significantly cheaper than legally sold cigarettes in Latvia and Lithuania, where prices start at around \u20ac5. Smuggled NZ cigarettes can be bought at \u20ac2 per pack in Vilnius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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