{"id":203665,"date":"2026-09-14T19:08:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T16:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203665\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T19:08:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T16:08:12","slug":"lithuania-intercepts-drone-carrying-200-packs-of-belarusian-cigarettes","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/203665\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania intercepts drone carrying 200 packs of 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

September 14, Pozirk.<\/strong> Lithuanian border guards has intercepted another drone carrying smuggled Belarusian-made cigarettes, the State Border Guard Service under the Interior Ministry reported on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drone was detected late on September 13 near the village of Uta in the \u0160al\u010dininkai district after officers heard a distinctive buzzing sound and deployed anti\u2011drone equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the intervention, the drone turned around and headed toward the border. It soon crashed and was later found in a meadow near the village of Versekel\u0117, roughly 500 meters from the border line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attached to the drone was a package containing 200 packs of Minsk Superslims cigarettes bearing Belarusian excise stamps, along with a GPS device. The shipment was valued at \u20ac1,102.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the border control agency, Lithuanian officers have intercepted 56 smuggling drones so far this year. Lithuania reported downing 59 such drones in 2025 and 54 in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuanian border guards have reportedly downed 56 drones carrying contraband cigarettes from Belarus this year. Lithuania said that it intercepted 59 such drones in 2025 and 54 in 2024.<\/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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