A fisherman spotted a balloon on the ice of Lake Peipus on Tuesday morning and reported it to border guards. The South Border Guard Bureau believes that the balloon could be part of a smuggling attempt of contraband cigarettes from Belarus to Europe. The balloon was located approximately three kilometers from a temporary control line on the lake, demonstrating the ongoing issue of illegal goods trafficking in the region.

Upon reaching the scene, border guards found a white balloon attached to three boxes, which contained a total of 30,000 contraband cigarettes marked with Belarusian tax stamps. The authorities confirmed that these cigarettes are likely part of organized smuggling efforts that target the European market. This incident underscores the challenges faced by border security in monitoring and controlling illegal trade across borders, particularly with the rising tide of smuggling activities coming from Eastern Europe.

As the border guard continues to investigate, this event highlights the vulnerabilities of border regions to illegal trafficking, as well as the need for effective regulation and enforcement strategies to combat smuggling. The discovery of the cigarettes and the manner in which they were transported points towards an organized effort to circumvent customs and duties, which could have broader implications for public health and legal commerce within the European Union.