Lithuanian Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė announced the detention of four people in connection with the invasion of balloons with cigarettes from Belarus. According to the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, the detainees were taken into custody for two months.
According to Lithuania’s Prosecutor General, 21 pre-trial investigations have been launched this year into the movement of smuggled cigarettes by balloons and 50 suspects have been identified.
From January to September, more than 500 cases of moving smuggled cigarettes by balloons were recorded in Lithuania. 12 cases have already been considered by the courts, four are in the process of consideration. 18 people have been found guilty and the total amount of fines collected from them exceeds 111 thousand euros.
“Several people have been sentenced to an average of one year and five months in prison,” Nida Grunskiene said.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on 28 October that the balloons found on the country’s territory were not means of smuggling. According to him, they are “deliberate actions aimed at destabilising the situation in Lithuania”.
27 October, Lithuania closed the border with Belarus for an indefinite period. The government will approve the final decision on the duration of the border closure at a meeting on 29 October.