{"id":195241,"date":"2026-07-10T17:34:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T14:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/195241\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T17:34:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T14:34:57","slug":"lithuania-intercepts-two-drones-carrying-belarusian-cigarettes","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/195241\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania intercepts\u00a0two\u00a0drones\u00a0carrying Belarusian cigarettes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Lithuanian State Border Guard Service) <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

July 10, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Lithuanian border guards intercepted two drones carrying smuggled Belarusian-made cigarettes on the night of July 9 in the \u0160al\u010dininkai municipality near from the shared border with Belarus, reported the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drones were carrying 2,000 packs of Queen Menthol cigarettes bearing Belarusian excise stamps, with an estimated value of \u20ac10,920, the agency said. Lithuanian authorities have launched an investigation. If found and convicted, the perpetrators may face up to four years in prison. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuanian border guards have downed 33 drones carrying contraband cigarettes from Belarus since the start of 2026, the agency noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It reportedly intercepted 59 cigarette smuggling drones in 2025 and 54 in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The previous interception of such a drone, the 31st this year, was reported on July 9. Two days earlier, the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service reported intercepting a record four drones in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions between Belarus and Lithuania over cigarette-smuggling by air started rising last October, forcing Lithuanian authorities to close the border and suspend operations at Vilnius International Airport, located close to the Belarusian border, over incursion of smugglers\u2019 balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vilnius declared an \u201cextreme situation,\u201d a low-level emergency, on December 9 in response to what it called \u201ca hybrid attack from Belarus.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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