Two men charged with mailing and distributing large quantities of psychotropic substances

Two men have been formally charged with smuggling and distributing large quantities of psychotropic drugs via postal services, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reports.

According to a statement from the prosecutor’s office, the suspects—identified only as E. K. (born 1999) and A. K. (born 2020)—are accused of large-scale smuggling and unlawful possession of psychotropic substances with intent to distribute. Investigators allege that between December 2024 and January 2025, the men used the encrypted messaging app Signal to acquire and ship a significant quantity of psychotropic drugs from Poland to Lithuania, bypassing customs controls and lacking proper authorisation.

Payments for the substances were reportedly made in cryptocurrency. Authorities state that upon receiving the shipments, the suspects repackaged portions of the drugs into smaller quantities and concealed them in hidden locations across Vilnius. Coordinates to these stashes were then shared with buyers via Signal.

The men were detained in January 2025 after three postal packages containing over 39 kg of crystalline substance—later confirmed to include more than 33 kg of the psychotropic drug 3-chlormethcathinone (3-CMC)—were intercepted at a post office in the capital.

One of the suspects, E. K., has a prior conviction for similar offences. In 2021, the Vilnius Regional Court sentenced him to two years of restricted freedom and banned him from using psychoactive substances. Prosecutors note that evidence suggests the suspects consumed some of the seized drugs themselves.

E. K. remains in custody, while A. K. has been placed under intensive supervision. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 to 15 years in prison under Lithuanian criminal law. The case has been referred to the Vilnius Regional Court for trial.