US EditionLithuania arrests 21 in alleged cigarette smuggling ring using weather balloons from Belarus
Authorities seized cigarettes, luxury cars, firearms, and communication devices during a coordinated crackdown on a smuggling ring using weather balloons, involving 21 arrests.
- On Tuesday, Lithuanian authorities arrested 21 detainees, including alleged leaders, in a cigarette-smuggling ring using weather balloons launched from the Republic of Belarus.
- Earlier this month, Lithuania declared a national emergency over meteorological balloons sent from the Republic of Belarus, while prosecutors say organisers maintained contacts in Belarus and launched balloons under favourable weather.
- Investigators tracked balloon movements using GPS equipment and specialised applications and relayed exact landing coordinates to operatives, while more than 80 searches seized cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps, SIM cards, jammers and firearms.
- Authorities mobilized more than 140 officers as balloons forced repeated shutdowns of Lithuania's main airport and closure of border crossings between Lithuania and Belarus.
- Prosecutors say the network was tightly controlled, with organisers requiring delivery of contraband to pre-agreed points and seizing luxury vehicles and property valued at 720,000.
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24 Articles
The cigarette smuggling suspects are believed to be the people behind the mysterious Belarusian balloons, which recently alarmed Lithuania and forced it to close its border and declare a state of emergency. Lithuanian authorities announced on Tuesday that they have arrested 21 people, suspected of being members of a criminal group, on the grounds that they were using GPS-equipped balloons to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus, writes Politico.
Lithuania Cracks Down on Cigarette Smuggling Network Using Weather Balloons
Lithuanian authorities have arrested 21 individuals linked to a network smuggling cigarettes with weather balloons from Belarus. Extensive searches yielded contraband, firearms, and luxury items. The operation involved over 140 officers and highlighted security risks requiring airport and border closures due to frequent airspace violations.
Lithuanian authorities say 21 people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in cigarette smuggling from Belarus using balloons.
Associated Press News
Lithuania arrests 21 in alleged cigarette smuggling ring using weather balloons from Belarus
Lithuanian authorities have arrested 21 people allegedly linked to a criminal network smuggling cigarettes using weather balloons from Belarus.
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