September 30, Pozirk. The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (SBGS) has formally asked the government for permission to use firearms to down balloons flying into the country from Belarus, lrt.lt reported.
SBGS head Rustamas Liubajevas submitted a proposal to that effect to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Intrusions from Belarus increased from 117 in August to 250 in September, he said. He was particularly concerned about hot air balloons used for smuggling cigarettes.
The move comes dais after a small uncontrolled balloon carrying 20 kilograms of contraband Belarusian cigarettes landed at Vilnius Airport.
According to Liubajevas, weather balloons gain altitude of 2–5 km, and Lithuanian border guards have no means of stopping them. The border guard chief added that such objects cannot be detected crossing the border.
Lithuanian MP Dainius Gaižauskas said last week that hundreds of balloons have been smuggling cargoes from Belarus to Lithuania for a year. One balloon can carry about 1,000 cigarette packs, he added.
