On Friday, Lithuanian Border Guard Service (VSAT) officials successfully intercepted seven cargoes delivered by balloons, leading to the arrest of two individuals involved in a noteworthy smuggling case. The operations occurred in Varėna and Lazdijai regions, as well as the Druskininkai municipality, marking the largest number of seized cargo deliveries in a single day this year for the VSAT. The operation was reported to be meticulously planned, with GPS devices attached to the cargo as is standard practice in such cases.

Overall, the authorities recovered 12,700 packets of illegal cigarettes from the seized cargoes, prompting an ongoing investigation into illegal possession of excise goods. As reported, in a daring retrieval effort to reach the cargo in the Čepkeliai Reserve of Varėna district, officers trudged through approximately 3 kilometers of snow. The intercepted cargo consisted of 3,500 packets of Belarusian cigarettes, which were initially delivered by three interconnected balloons. The officers had to navigate back through the marsh to an accessible location for a service vehicle, underscoring the challenging conditions faced during the operation.

As of Saturday morning, VSAT reported that a total of 40,000 packets of illegal cigarettes have been seized this year, illustrating a significant ongoing effort by Lithuanian authorities to combat smuggling and the illegal trade of tobacco products. The use of unconventional methods like balloon delivery indicates a calculated attempt to evade regulation, and the success of this operation may prompt further investigations into similar smuggling tactics within the region.