Lithuania arrests 21 during investigation into balloon smuggling ring that closed airport
This crackdown follows Lithuania's declaration of a national emergency earlier this month
Lithuanian authorities have arrested 21 individuals linked to a criminal network that allegedly smuggled cigarettes from Russia-allied Belarus using specially equipped weather balloons. These balloons have repeatedly violated the Baltic nation's airspace in recent weeks.
The Lithuanian general prosecutor's office confirmed over 80 searches were conducted, leading to the seizure of cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps, SIM cards, communication and tracking signal jammers, and firearms. Luxury cars and valuable property were also confiscated.
This crackdown follows Lithuania's declaration of a national emergency earlier this month, citing security risks posed by the meteorological balloons originating from Belarus.
The balloons forced Lithuania to repeatedly shut down its main airport, stranding thousands of people, and led to the closure of border crossings between the two countries, as Europe remains on alert over previous intrusions into NATO airspace during the war in Ukraine.
Tuesday's operation involved more than 140 officers from the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, Vilnius police and special anti-terrorism units.
The prosecutor's office said in a statement the alleged network was “characterized by a very strict conspiracy and distribution of roles, cigarette smuggling was carried out systematically, in a coordinated manner, under strict control of its organizers (leaders) and their trustees.”
The prosecutors allege that “the organizers may have had direct contacts with accomplices operating in the Republic of Belarus, from where, under favorable weather conditions, balloons with smuggled cigarettes were launched.”
“Using tracking (GPS) equipment and appropriate programs, the movement of the balloons was monitored, and the exact coordinates of their landing in Lithuania were transmitted to the executors,” prosecutors said. “After collecting the contraband, the latter had to deliver it to pre-agreed points or hand it over to other persons involved in the crimes.”
The Lithuanian authorities said that all 21 suspects would face charges of participating in a criminal organization, illegal handling and smuggling of excise goods and aiding another state in acting against Lithuania.