Один из метеозондов, перехваченных в Литве. Иллюстративное фото: VSAT
Lithuanian law enforcement authorities have brought charges against 28 individuals in a case involving the smuggling of cigarettes from Belarus using balloons. This was reported on Wednesday by Artūras Urbelis, Chief Prosecutor of the Organized Crime and Corruption Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, LRT reported citing BNS.
According to him, the pre-trial investigation was launched in December last year, and at the current stage it involves 28 suspects.
Among them, five individuals are believed to have acted as leaders of the criminal group on Lithuanian territory. They are residents of Šalčininkai District of “mature age” who had previously been prosecuted, including in cases related to smuggling and illegal circulation of excisable goods. They were detained on Monday during a large-scale operation, and the прокуратура has applied to the court for their arrest.
Deputy Head of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau Saulius Briginas said that, according to investigators, the suspects recruited operatives to organize cigarette smuggling from Belarus using balloons and acted in coordination with criminal groups operating in the neighboring country.