Lithuanian border guards seized a record amount of contraband cigarettes in 2025, the State Border Guard Service reported.
According to the service, more than 4.44 million packs of cigarettes were intercepted — three times more than in 2024, when almost 1.39 million packs were seized. The value of the cigarettes confiscated last year is estimated at €21.1 million. It is noted that cigarette smuggling in Lithuania is intercepted not only by the border service, but also by customs and police.
An important trend, the service said, is that most of the contraband detected by border guards did not come from Belarus.
“Last year was exceptional because there were more attempts to smuggle illegal cigarettes into Lithuania from Latvia than from Belarus. Nothing like this has ever happened before,” the service stated.
According to border guards, 50.1% of seized cigarettes entered Lithuania from Latvia. Forty-five cases were recorded, totalling 2.2 million packs. Another 49.2% arrived from Belarus — mostly by air balloons. A total of 1.6 million packs were seized. Only 0.3% came from Russia. In total, 911 smuggling attempts were stopped.
The most popular brand among smugglers was Minsk, which accounted for 37% of all intercepted cigarettes. Another 26% were Belarusian-made NZ. Marlboro made up 15%, while Winston accounted for 13%. Most cigarettes of these two brands lacked excise markings.
The service also highlighted additional trends in smuggling from Belarus. Over the year, 635 balloon-borne shipments were intercepted compared to 226 in 2024. Cases of balloons flying more than 100 kilometres into Lithuanian territory became more frequent: in 2024 they accounted for about a third of all cases, while in 2025 they made up two thirds. Only one third of balloons landed near the border. Border guards also intercepted 59 drones — just five more than in 2024.
Additionally, 32 rafts carrying cigarettes down the Neman and Neris rivers were seized, totalling more than 107,000 packs.
“The price difference between cigarettes in Lithuania and Belarus remains significant, creating favourable conditions for illegal transport and trade, especially given the public’s tolerance for cheaper contraband cigarettes.
Belarusian tobacco production continues to exceed domestic demand. Combined with Lithuania’s geographic location, the country remains an attractive transit point for illegal shipments to other EU states. Moreover, the Belarusian regime uses balloon smuggling as a hybrid attack against Lithuania.
Considering these factors, the risk of illegal tobacco transport remains high,” the border service concluded.