Lithuanian Border Guards Intercept First Cigarette Balloon Shipment of 2026

Reform.news Editorial Team · 6 January 2026, 13:22

https://reform.news/en/lithuanian-border-guards-intercept-first-cigarette-balloon-shipment-of-2026/

Lithuanian border guards have discovered the first shipment of cigarette contraband delivered from Belarus using balloons.

The illegal consignment was found shortly after midnight today in the Varėna District. A total of 3,000 packs of Minsk Capital QS cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps were transported using two balloons.

An investigation has been launched.

It was also noted that several radar signals characteristic of balloons were detected overnight.

Last year, Lithuania’s border service intercepted 635 shipments of contraband delivered using weather balloons. Smugglers were most active in March (77 balloons), October (70), and September (68). In addition, Lithuanian border guards intercepted 59 drones carrying contraband in 2025. A total of 122 people involved in smuggling were detained over the year.