Lithuanian border guards detain Polish man attempting to cross into Belarus with nearly €60,000

Lithuanian border guards have detained a Polish citizen who allegedly attempted to cross into Belarus using homemade ladders to scale a protective barrier, state broadcaster LRT reported on Thursday.

The State Border Guard Service (VSAT) said the 42-year-old man was apprehended on Wednesday near the village of Jaskonys in Druskininkai municipality, roughly 200 metres from the Belarusian border. Officers discovered climbing equipment, a hammer, knives, and ropes in his possession, along with a bicycle, sleeping bag, and personal belongings.

During a search, authorities found nearly €60,000 in cash—US dollars and Polish zloty—concealed in his socks. The man admitted he had planned to use the ladders to climb over Lithuania’s concertina wire barrier, installed to deter irregular migration from Belarus, before continuing into Belarusian territory.

A pre-trial investigation has been launched on suspicion of illegal border crossing and currency smuggling, led by prosecutors from Kaunas Regional Prosecutor’s Office. On Thursday, a court ordered the suspect remanded in custody for one month. The seized cash remains in the custody of the Varėna border guard unit.