Belarusian Cigarettes Survive Smugglers’ Drone Crash In Lithuania

Reform.news Editorial Team · 23 September 2026, 12:28

https://reform.news/en/belarusian-cigarettes-survive-smugglers-drone-crash-in-lithuania/

Lithuanian border guards shot down another smugglers’ drone carrying cigarettes from Belarus. The drone crashed and burned, but the Belarusian cigarettes were not damaged.

The incident occurred on the night from Monday to Tuesday near the village of Liškiava in Šalčininkai District. Patrol officers heard the sound of a drone, managed to establish visual contact with it using a thermal imaging camera, and then used a drone interception device. The drone fell in a wooded area.

The drone was found on Tuesday morning approximately 800 meters from the state border. The drone burned upon impact, but its cargo was not damaged. Two boxes containing 1,000 packs of Minsk Superslims cigarettes were seized. The shipment was valued at €5,500.

This is already the 58th drone intercepted by Lithuanian border guards in 2026. Last year, they intercepted 59 drones.