Balloons carrying thousands of packs of cigarettes have disrupted flights in Lithuania, as Vilnius Airport was forced to close for hours when dozens of them floated into the country's airspace. The National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) reported that 25 meteorological balloons were detected entering Lithuania from neighbouring Belarus, two of which ended up directly over the airport.
The airport's shutdown resulted in 30 flight cancellations, affecting around 6,000 passengers. Authorities warned of potential delays extending into Monday. This disruption comes amidst heightened tension in Europe, following several drone incursions suspected to be linked to Russia.
Lithuanian officials stated that among the balloons, at least 11 were recovered, which contained 18,000 packs of black-market cigarettes. The NCMC spokesperson noted that this method of smuggling is not new, as similar incidents have been reported in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. So far this year, 544 balloons have been recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus, while 966 cases were reported last year.
In the Podlaskie region of Poland, which also borders Belarus, over 100 instances of balloon smuggling have been recorded. Experts suggest that smugglers prefer using weather balloons due to their lower costs compared to drones, despite the risks associated with weather variability.
Authorities remain vigilant as they aim to curb this smuggling tactic while ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations in the region.
The airport's shutdown resulted in 30 flight cancellations, affecting around 6,000 passengers. Authorities warned of potential delays extending into Monday. This disruption comes amidst heightened tension in Europe, following several drone incursions suspected to be linked to Russia.
Lithuanian officials stated that among the balloons, at least 11 were recovered, which contained 18,000 packs of black-market cigarettes. The NCMC spokesperson noted that this method of smuggling is not new, as similar incidents have been reported in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. So far this year, 544 balloons have been recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus, while 966 cases were reported last year.
In the Podlaskie region of Poland, which also borders Belarus, over 100 instances of balloon smuggling have been recorded. Experts suggest that smugglers prefer using weather balloons due to their lower costs compared to drones, despite the risks associated with weather variability.
Authorities remain vigilant as they aim to curb this smuggling tactic while ensuring the safety of civil aviation operations in the region.
