On Saturday, around 12:45 PM, the Lithuanian Police Department conducted a routine inspection of a passenger bus on Naujoji Street in Alytus. During the inspection, officers discovered six travel suitcases in the baggage compartment of the bus. Upon examination, these suitcases were found to contain a total of 7,501 packs of cigarettes, all bearing Belarusian tax stamps.

The total estimated value of the confiscated cigarettes amounts to €39,155.22. The suitcases belonged to three individuals: a woman born in 1983, a minor born in 2009, and a man born in 1989. This incident raises concerns about smuggling activities in the region and the illegal trade of excise goods, particularly as it pertains to cross-border transport from Belarus.

In light of this discovery, the police have launched a pre-trial investigation into the illegal possession of excise goods. Authorities are expected to delve deeper into the origins of the cigarettes and whether the individuals involved were part of a larger smuggling ring, highlighting ongoing issues related to illicit tobacco trade in Lithuania and its neighboring countries.