Drone Carrying Belarusian Cigarettes Intercepted in Lithuania

Reform.news Editorial Team · 16 September 2026, 17:19

https://reform.news/en/drone-carrying-belarusian-cigarettes-intercepted-in-lithuania-4/

Border guards in Lithuania’s Šalčininkai District intercepted a drone that had flown from Belarus carrying a shipment of cigarettes. The aircraft was brought down using anti-drone equipment about one kilometer from the state border, the State Border Guard Service of Lithuania reported.

The incident occurred on the night of September 15-16 near the village of Norviliškės. Border guards heard the characteristic sound of a drone coming from the direction of Belarus. Using a portable thermal imaging camera, they detected the aircraft with a rectangular package attached to it.

The drone was forced to land. Boxes bearing the logo of the Grodno-based Neman tobacco factory and wrapped in black polyethylene film were attached to the drone. The boxes contained 1,000 packs of NZ Gold cigarettes. Their value is estimated at €5,510.

Administrative proceedings have been launched.