{"id":185267,"date":"2026-04-28T12:50:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:50:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/185267\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T12:50:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:50:47","slug":"lithuania-arrests-another-suspect-over-2000-packs-of-belarusian-cigarettes","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/185267\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania arrests another suspect over 2,000 packs of Belarusian cigarettes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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April 28, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Lithuanian law enforcers arrested a man from Lithuania’s Panev\u0117\u017eys district who transported 2,000 packs of cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps worth an estimated \u20ac10,760, the Lithuanian State Border Guards Service reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident dates back to April 24, when border guards, together with the local police, stopped a Volvo V70 car with Lithuanian license plates for a check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities launched a pre-trial investigation into the illegal handling of excise goods. The driver may face a fine or up to four years in prison if convicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarette smuggling has been a source of significant tensions between Lithuania and Belarus since last fall. In late 2025, Vilnius declared a low-level emergency over incursions by smugglers\u2019 weather balloons 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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