{"id":202151,"date":"2026-09-02T12:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T09:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/202151\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T12:36:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T09:36:12","slug":"lithuania-arrests-man-carrying-1000-packs-of-belarusian-cigarettes","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/202151\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania arrests man carrying 1,000 packs of Belarusian cigarettes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

September 2, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Lithuanian border guards have arrested a 31-year-old man from the \u0160al\u010dininkai district who was transporting 1,000 packs of NZ Gold cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps on an electric scooter, the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officers stopped the suspect for inspection on a forest road near the Belarusian border and found the cigarettes in two plastic-wrapped bundles. The cigarettes had an estimated value of \u20ac5,510, including Lithuanian taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man has a history of prosecution for illegally handling excise goods and now faces a fine of up to \u20ac6,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Border guards also found that the man had entered the border zone without an ID. The electric scooter he was riding had no registration, insurance or license plates, and he was not wearing the required helmet.<\/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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