Smugglers use weather balloons to drop 50,000 packs of Belarusian cigarettes near Lithuanian border
Lithuanian border guards have uncovered a large shipment of smuggled Belarusian cigarettes in a forest near the Belarusian border. The discovery, made near the village of Kodžiai in the Lazdijai district, involved thousands of packs dropped by weather balloons from across the border.
Authorities have since launched a pre-trial investigation into the smuggling operation, which appears to be linked to a wider criminal network spanning both countries.
The cigarettes were found scattered within a 20-metre radius in the Hrodna Forest, close to the border. Attached loops suggested they were meant for quick retrieval. The haul included 50,000 packs of Minsk 5 Superslims and Queen Menthol cigarettes, all produced by Belarus’s Hrodna factory Neman. The total estimated value of the confiscated goods stands at €259,500.
Border guards had set up an ambush after detecting suspicious activity, but no one arrived to collect the shipment for several hours. Investigators now believe the smuggling operation involved a criminal network with 21 arrested members in Lithuania. Evidence suggests direct contacts with accomplices in Belarus, who used weather balloons to transport the cigarettes across the border into Lithuanian airspace.
The seized cigarettes remain in custody as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities are examining the network’s connections and methods, with the case highlighting cross-border smuggling tactics. The total value of the confiscated goods reinforces the scale of the operation.
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