Фото: policija.lrv.lt
On December 16, Lithuanian police carried out a large-scale operation that resulted in the detention of 21 people. The detainees are suspected of smuggling using meteorological balloons, as well as assisting another state in actions directed against Lithuania, the Lithuanian police reported.
More than 140 officers took part in the raid, including members of the Aras anti-terrorism unit. The pre-trial investigation is being overseen by the Organized Crime and Corruption Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
During the operation, more than 80 searches were conducted. Cigarettes bearing Belarusian excise stamps, SIM cards, communications jammers, and firearms were seized. Property belonging to the detainees, including vehicles, was also seized and placed under arrest, with a total estimated value of about 720,000 euros.
According to Lithuanian police, the detained members of the organized group were systematically engaged in cigarette smuggling. The group had a clear division of roles and strict operational secrecy. Investigators believe the organizers maintained direct contact with accomplices on the territory of Belarus, from where the meteorological balloons were launched. The movement of the balloons was tracked via GPS, and precise coordinates were transmitted to operatives in Lithuania. After the balloons landed, the cargo was collected and transported to prearranged locations or handed over to other members of the group.
All detainees have been charged with participation in a criminal organization, illegal handling of excisable goods and their smuggling, as well as providing assistance to another state in actions against the Republic of Lithuania.