{"id":174383,"date":"2026-02-05T13:01:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T10:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/174383\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"baltic-border-chiefs-to-discuss-ways-to-counter-balloon-incursions","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/174383\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltic border chiefs to discuss ways to counter balloon incursions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

February<\/strong> 5, <\/strong>Pozirk<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong>The border patrol chiefs of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are holding a two-day meeting in Daugavpils on January 6 to discuss airspace safety, the fight against the illegal use of weather balloons and possible threats in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balloon incursions have been a source of tensions between Belarus and Lithuania. In late 2025, Vilnius declared an \u201cextreme situation,\u201d a low-level emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the start of 2026, Lithuania has intercepted at least 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

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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