Six drinking hunters identified, including three environmental officers

Six hunters, including three officials of Lithuania’s Environmental Protection Department (AAD), were found to have consumed alcohol during a hunting inspection in Biržai district, LRT reported.

AAD’s Wildlife Protection Department officials checked a vehicle carrying hunters and firearms on Thursday. Police were called to determine the individuals’ sobriety.

The vehicle contained four people with firearms. One firearm was being transported without a case. Alcohol was detected in all four people: one had a level below 0.4 parts per mille, while the others had levels above 0.4 parts per mille. The highest reading was 1.78 parts per mille.

One of the four people was an AAD official. Investigators later established that two other AAD officials had also taken part in hunts that day. One had an alcohol level below 0.4 parts per mille, while the other recorded 0.51 parts per mille.

Police have opened an investigation into possible violations involving the transport of firearms by people who had consumed alcohol. The AAD has also launched investigations into possible hunting violations and an internal inquiry into the actions of the three department officials involved.