Lithuania seizes ten out of 25 cigarette-smuggling balloons

October 6, Pozirk. Lithuanian authorities have found ten of the 25 weather balloons that flew in from Belarus over the weekend, BNS reports, citing Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Center.
Law enforcers arrested individuals who were allegedly going to pick up smuggled cigarettes transported by balloons, LRT said, citing the official.
Investigators are still searching for the suspected gang leaders.
At least 26 air balloons flew into Lithuania and Poland on the night of October 5–6. Most of them ended up in Lithuania, forcing Vilnius Airport to suspend operations. Disruptions affected about 30 flights and 6,000 passengers.
The detected balloons were carrying 12,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes.
Smugglers often use balloons to send cigarettes from Belarus to the European Union.
Suspected contraband balloons disrupt Vilnius Airport, affecting 6,000 passengers
- EconomyBelarus’ agricultural growth accelerates to 4.7 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyHouseholds’ disposable income rises by 7.9 percent in January-MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBelarusian Steel Works sends 80 percent of its exports to RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society, Sport
- Politics, SecurityLatvia records irregular crossings via Belarus for 111 consecutive daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyKGB brands Belarusian marketplace, Ukrainian elite unit as “extremist” groupsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, SportFIBA upholds suspension of Belarus’ basketball teams – reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyŁukašenka: 5,000 Uzbek workers to arrive in Viciebsk regionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja grateful to Macron and France for supporting free BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityNine countries join EU sanctions on Belarus’ IzovacThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Economy
- EconomyCentral bank’s net assets decrease in MayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBelarusian companies’ debts rise by nearly 15 percent in a yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCash in circulation rises by 2.9 percent in JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society

