{"id":179892,"date":"2026-03-18T17:47:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T14:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179892\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T17:47:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T14:47:10","slug":"lithuania-intercepts-seven-air-shipments-of-smuggled-belarusian-cigarettes","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/179892\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania intercepts seven air shipments of smuggled Belarusian cigarettes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 18, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Border guards in southern Lithuania intercepted seven large consignments of cigarettes smuggled by air balloons from Belarus on March 17, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the balloons was detected by officers using a Eurocopter helicopter. All shipments were equipped with GPS transmitters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In total, the seven consignments contained 12,500 packs of Belarusian cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the beginning of the year, Lithuanian authorities have intercepted at least 69 shipments of cigarettes delivered by air from Belarus, seizing 196,000 packs and detaining 28 suspects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Lithuania intercepted 635 such air shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarette smuggling has been a significant source of tension between Belarus and Lithuania. In late 2025, Vilnius declared an \u201cextreme situation\u201d\u2014a low-level emergency\u2014over incursions by weather balloons carrying contraband goods that disrupted operations at the country\u2019s airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarettes cost around \u20ac1 per pack in Belarus, making them significantly cheaper than legally sold cigarettes in Lithuania, where prices start at about \u20ac5. Smuggled NZ-brand cigarettes can be purchased in Vilnius for around \u20ac2 per pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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