Lithuanian prosecutors seek fines for suspects accused of smuggling Russian cigarettes by balloon

Lithuanian prosecutors have requested fines of up to €25,000 for six individuals accused of smuggling cigarettes from Russia into the Kaunas region using balloons, state broadcaster LRT reported on Wednesday.

The Kaunas Regional Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion to conclude the case with a court penalty order, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office. Investigators allege that, until November 20, 2025, the suspects used balloons to transport cigarettes bearing Belarusian tax stamps from Russia into Kaunas District. The total value of the smuggled goods, including unpaid taxes, is estimated at nearly €30,000.

All six suspects have fully admitted their guilt during the pre-trial investigation. The prosecutor has proposed that the Tauragė District Court issue fines ranging from €10,000 to €25,000, reduced by one-third under procedural rules. The motion also seeks confiscation of two vehicles, mobile phones, thermal imagers, flashlights, masks, and other equipment used in the smuggling operation.

The investigation was led by the Kaunas Regional Prosecutor’s Office, with support from the State Border Guard Service’s Pagėgiai Border Unit. The case has been forwarded to the Tauragė District Court for a ruling.