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 neighboring Belarus, with two ending up directly over the airport.
The airport's shutdown led to 30 flight cancellations impacting 6,000 passengers and subsequent delays were anticipated on Monday.
This 'airspace violation' occurs amid heightened tensions in Europe, notably after numerous drone incursions—believed to be linked to Russia—had previously disrupted air traffic.
Moscow has denied involvement in these incidents. Lithuanian officials noted that 14 of the weather balloons launched over the weekend passed over the Vilnius area, which is close to the Belarus border.
At least 11 balloons carrying 18,000 packs of black-market cigarettes have been recovered, though this number may increase, according to Lithuania's State Border Guard Service. Despite the serious disruption, NCMC spokesperson stated that contraband transport via balloons is not a new phenomenon in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland.
This year, 544 balloons have been documented entering Lithuania from Belarus, compared to 966 the previous year. The Polish Podlaskie region has also recorded over 100 such incidents of smuggling using balloons, which are typically meant for weather instruments.
Last month, a Belarusian suspect was arrested in Poland while carrying smuggled cigarettes linked to a balloon transport operation.
The NCMC remarked that meteorological balloons, although subject to external weather conditions, are a cost-effective alternative for smugglers compared to drones.
While criminal methods evolve, authorities search for the most effective means to intercept contraband and hold smugglers accountable, minimizing risks to civil aviation.
Recent drone incidents prompted discussions on strengthening air defenses, with Danish airports recently closed due to unauthorized drone activity that was not attributed to Russian operations, despite earlier airspace incursions being linked to Russian actions in nearby countries.
