Customs report rising attempts to smuggle smokeless tobacco into Lithuania

Lithuanian customs officers are increasingly intercepting attempts to bring smokeless tobacco from Central Asia into the country, LRT reports.

At Vilnius Airport on Thursday, officers found four similar violations involving passengers arriving on different flights. They found smokeless tobacco products in various forms, packed in plastic bottles, bags and other containers, the Customs Department said.

Officers seized 13.718 kilograms in total. One passenger was carrying four kilograms, while the other three had 3.126, 3.160 and 3.432 kilograms, respectively. Nearly 20 kilograms of smokeless tobacco have been seized at the airport over several days.

The latest cases follow the seizure of more than six kilograms of nasvay, a smokeless tobacco product, at Vilnius Airport a few days earlier. Nasvay and similar products are widespread in some Central Asian countries.

The composition of illegally manufactured products is often not controlled, so consumers cannot be sure of their ingredients or effects on health. Specialists warn that they may contain substances harmful to health in addition to tobacco.

Lithuanian customs reminds passengers that tobacco products may be brought into the country only in accordance with legal requirements. Passengers must declare goods they are carrying and present them for customs inspection. Administrative offence proceedings have been launched in all four cases, and the seized tobacco has been sent for further investigation.