Prosecutors send balloon-smuggling case against Varėna resident to court

Prosecutors have sent to court a case against a 26-year-old resident of Varėna district accused of smuggling and illegally possessing excise goods as part of an organised group, LRT reports.

According to the pre-trial investigation, the accused and his associates collected cigarettes brought from Belarus into Lithuania across the border by hot-air balloons. In late January last year, he allegedly collected 1,000 packs of Minsk Superslims and 2,000 packs of NZ Gold cigarettes bearing Belarusian excise stamps. Their total value was 13,440 euros.

Investigators said evidence points to an organised group operating in Belarus and Lithuania that used hot-air balloons, GPS devices and mobile communications equipment to transport excise goods systematically. The accused allegedly collected and concealed the cigarettes, passed them to other associates and hid equipment used in the criminal activity.

He faces a fine or up to four years in prison. The case has been referred to the Druskininkai Chamber of the Alytus District Court.