{"id":208710,"date":"2026-10-23T16:30:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T13:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/208710\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T16:30:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T13:30:21","slug":"lithuania-arrests-another-border-guard-in-belarus-linked-smuggling-case","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/208710\/","title":{"rendered":"Lithuania arrests another border guard in Belarus-linked smuggling case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October 23, Pozirk. <\/strong>Lithuanian authorities arrested a junior border guard officer two days ago at the Kap\u010diamiestis border post, the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation launched after the seizure of a shipment containing 22 boxes of Belarusian-made cigarettes in Lazdijai district on September 7. The illegal cargo was reportedly delivered by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Border guards arrested two people who turned up to pick up the contraband goods, while other law enforcement agencies arrested two junior officers from the Kap\u010diamiestis border post, two more suspects in Valkininkai and the chief investigator of the Var\u0117na border unit. Arrests linked to the case were also reported on September 15 and 24 and October 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lithuania charged 14 border officials with corruption-related crimes this year, the border agency has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tensions between Belarus and Lithuania over cigarette smuggling by air started rising a year ago, forcing Lithuanian authorities to close the border and suspend operations at Vilnius International Airport, located close to the Belarusian border, over incursions of smugglers\u2019 balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Vilnius declared an \u201cextreme situation,\u201d a low-level emergency, last December\u00a0 in response to what it called \u201ca hybrid attack from Belarus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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