During the day, a local fisherman spotted a balloon on the ice of Lake Peipsi, prompting him to alert the border guards. At 11:42 AM, he reported the sighting, leading the Varnja border guards to respond to the scene using sleds. Approximately three kilometers from the temporary control line, they located a white balloon tied to three boxes, which was later found to contain contraband cigarettes bearing Belarusian tax stamps.

Upon investigation, the border guards confirmed the contraband status of the cigarettes and transported them to the border guard station before handing them over to the tax and customs office for further processing. The incident highlights ongoing challenges regarding smuggling activities in the region, particularly as it straddles borders with Belarus and Russia.

This discovery raises concerns about the illicit trade routes across Eastern Europe and the effectiveness of border control measures in preventing such smuggling operations. It illustrates the vigilance required from local residents and border authorities in monitoring suspicious activities, especially in remote areas like Lake Peipsi where cross-border smuggling may be more prevalent.