{"id":182899,"date":"2026-04-09T12:12:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/182899\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T14:20:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T11:20:33","slug":"poland-arrests-belarusian-man-in-cigarette-smuggling-case","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/182899\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland arrests Belarusian man in cigarette-smuggling case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Podlaskie voivodeship\u2019s police)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 9, Pozirk. <\/em><\/strong>Polish police officers arrested a 36-year-old Belarusian and a 24-year-old Pole suspected of smuggling cigarettes from Belarus by weather balloons, the Podlaskie voivodeship\u2019s police said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polish law enforcers seized more than 7,500 packs of cigarettes worth about $73,000, charging the suspects with involvement in a criminal group and smuggling. Both men were placed in custody for three months and may face up to eight years in prison if convicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The police said that the criminal group turned their activities into a steady source of income, handling both the purchase of equipment for weather balloons and the smuggling activities. They also allegedly retrieved illegal cigarettes from balloon landing sites and transported the goods to stashes for resale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In late March, Polish border guards dismantled a cigarette-smuggling ring, arresting 10 Belarusians among a total of 12 suspects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes from Belarus have been a source of tensions between the two countries. In January, the Polish foreign ministry summoned a Belarusian diplomat to protest an incursion by more than 150 balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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