{"id":181120,"date":"2026-03-26T14:59:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T11:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/181120\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T14:59:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T11:59:04","slug":"balloon-with-belarusian-cigarettes-lands-at-lithuanias-private-estate","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/181120\/","title":{"rendered":"Balloon with Belarusian cigarettes lands at Lithuania\u2019s private estate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 26, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>A weather balloon carrying 1,500 packs of smuggled Belarusian cigarettes landed in a private yard in the town of \u017die\u017emariai in Lithuania early on March 26, LRT<\/em> reported. The owner of the estate reported the find to the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the beginning of the year to March 12, Lithuanian border guards intercepted at least 57 shipments of cigarettes delivered by air from Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, Lithuania intercepted 635 such air shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarette smuggling has been a significant source of tension between Belarus and Lithuania. In late 2025, Vilnius declared an \u201cextreme situation\u201d\u2014a low-level emergency\u2014over incursions by weather balloons carrying contraband goods that disrupted operations at the country\u2019s airports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cigarettes cost around \u20ac1 per pack in Belarus, making them significantly cheaper than legally sold cigarettes in Lithuania, where prices start at about \u20ac5. Smuggled NZ-brand cigarettes can be purchased in Vilnius for around \u20ac2 per pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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