On Thursday, border guards from the Pagėgiai Border Guard Unit, along with colleagues from the VSAT Special Operations Division 'Kovas', investigated reports about contraband being discarded from the Kybartai-Kena freight train. Upon arriving at the scene, they found cardboard boxes and detained two local residents aged 34 and 45. Around 50 boxes containing 'NZ Gold' cigarettes with Belarusian tax stamps were located along the railway tracks.

During their examination of the area, VSAT officers discovered a 'Volkswagen Crafter' van with Lithuanian registration nearby, which is suspected to be connected to the illegal transport of excise goods. In total, they uncovered 25,000 packs of cigarettes bearing Belarusian tax stamps, would be worth over 110,000 euros, including all taxes required in Lithuania. The authorities are treating this as a significant case of illegal possession of excise goods.

The seizures are part of a broader effort by Lithuanian border agencies to combat smuggling and secure the borders. The discovery highlights ongoing issues with cross-border smuggling from Belarus and the importance of vigilance by border authorities in monitoring transport routes. Such incidents not only affect local economies but also present challenges for national law enforcement and public health due to unregulated tobacco distribution.