Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (VSAT) reported a record seizure of contraband cigarettes being smuggled into the country using balloons. Within the past 24 hours, authorities detained two suspects linked to this unique method of smuggling. The balloons, loaded with Belarusian cigarettes, were spotted in Varėna and Lazdijai districts, as well as in the Druskininkai municipality, complicating retrieval efforts due to their landing location in the Čepkelių Reserve, known for its swampy terrain.

The operation faced significant challenges, as border guards had to traverse approximately three kilometers through deep snow to reach one of the balloon locations. This particular operation involved recovering around 3,500 packs of cigarettes transported by three interconnected balloons. Once the border guards took possession of the contraband, they had to navigate back through the mire for another three kilometers to reach a place where their service vehicle could access them, highlighting the difficulties involved in combating such unconventional smuggling tactics.

As of Saturday morning, the VSAT revealed that this year alone, there have been a total of 40 smuggling incidents involving balloons from Belarus, resulting in the interception of about 108,000 packs of cigarettes. An investigation is currently underway concerning illegal possession of excise goods, underscoring the continuing challenge faced by Lithuanian authorities in controlling drug trafficking in this region, reflecting broader issues of cross-border smuggling and economic crime that affects both local and national security.