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Lithuanian authorities have arrested 21 individuals linked to a criminal network that allegedly smuggled cigarettes from Russia-ally Belarus using specially equipped weather balloons. These balloons have repeatedly violated the Baltic country’s airspace in recent weeks.
The Lithuanian General Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that more than 80 searches were conducted, leading to the seizure of cigarettes along with Belarusian excise stamps, SIM cards, communications and tracking signal jammers, and firearms. Luxury cars and valuable property were also confiscated.
The action follows Lithuania declaring a national emergency earlier this month, citing security risks posed by meteorological balloons flying over Belarus.
The balloons forced Lithuania to repeatedly close its main airport, trapping thousands of people, and led to the closure of border crossings between the two countries. Europe Remains on alert regarding previous intrusions nato airfield during war ukraine,
More than 140 officers from the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau were involved in Tuesday’s operation, vilnius Police and special anti-terrorism units.
The prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the alleged network was characterized by “a very tight conspiracy and distribution of roles, the cigarette smuggling was carried out systematically in a coordinated manner, under the strict control of its organizers (leaders) and their trustees.”
Prosecutors allege that “the organizers may have had direct contacts with associates operating in the Republic of Belarus, from where, under favorable weather conditions, balloons of 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 executioners, prosecutors said. “After collecting the criteria, the latter were to deliver it to pre-agreed points or hand it over to other persons involved in the crimes.”
Lithuanian authorities said all 21 suspects would be charged with participation in a criminal organization, illegal handling and smuggling of excise goods and assisting another state in actions against Lithuania.