Sinkevičius demands greater accountability over smuggling

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius says current levels of smuggling into Lithuania are unacceptable and that officials must be held more accountable for stopping it, LRT reported. He said criminal networks must be dismantled and that transport routes are now probably the main way contraband enters the country.

“Smuggling reaches Lithuanian territory not only by balloons,” Sinkevičius told LRT Radio on Thursday. He said it was also troubling that Lithuanian authorities sometimes seize large quantities of contraband coming from Latvia.

Sinkevičius said he had discussed the issue with Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas and Donatas Škarnulis, acting head of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), Lithuania’s border guard agency. He said he would demand accountability from both officers and managers to bring smuggling levels down.

The prime minister also said the government should proceed with planned increases to alcohol and tobacco excise duties despite the risk that higher prices could encourage smuggling. The excise duties are expected to bring in 80 million euros, with a further 20 million euros projected after the coalition agreed to raise the rates.

Sinkevičius said the changes would increase prices for consumers by a few dozen cents and argued that the revenue gains and potential health benefits justified the measures. He said the government should work both to make the tax changes and to prevent smuggling.

Earlier this week, Sinkevičius asked Škarnulis, a candidate to lead VSAT, to present plans to strengthen border protection, including measures against smuggling and irregular migration. The governing coalition has also agreed on changes to gambling and sugar taxes and a new windfall tax scheme for energy companies.