Lithuania investigates 90 suspects in cross-border cigarette smuggling via balloons

Lithuanian prosecutors are conducting 30 pre-trial investigations into cigarette smuggling from Belarus using balloons, with around 90 individuals now identified as suspects, LRT reports.

General Prosecutor Nida Grunskienė confirmed on Thursday that the ongoing probes have already led to 20 court cases this year, resulting in over 30 convictions for cigarette smuggling via balloon. “Currently, we have more than 30 pre-trial investigations involving around 90 suspects,” Grunskienė told Žinių Radijas.

Last year, authorities intercepted 635 shipments of smuggled tobacco transported by balloon, a sharp increase from 226 in 2024, just a handful in 2023, and none in 2022. This year alone, 83 smuggling attempts have already been recorded.

Grunskienė noted that the largest ongoing investigation—launched in December into balloon-based cigarette smuggling and alleged hybrid attacks against Lithuania—now involves around 30 suspects. “This is a very large and complex case,” she said. “Some suspects have been detained for a long time, while others remain under arrest. Progress is slow, but investigators are working.”

Balloon smuggling operations last year disrupted over 300 flights at Vilnius Airport, affecting 47,000 passengers and causing nearly 60 hours of closures, according to the State Border Guard Service (VSAT). This year, 35 individuals suspected of involvement in aerial smuggling from Belarus have been detained, compared to 171 in 2025.

Lithuanian officials have framed the smuggling and migrant crises as part of a hybrid attack by Minsk. The return of Lithuanian truckers—previously detained by Belarus in retaliation for border closures—began earlier this week.

In a separate case, Grunskienė confirmed that a pre-trial investigation into allegations linked to the Jeffrey Epstein documents is underway, with around 20 individuals questioned so far. Prosecutors plan to request legal assistance from the U.S. “No victims have been formally identified yet, but we are gathering and analyzing information to prepare a legal assistance request,” she said.

A dedicated hotline (+37060468154) has been set up for potential victims or witnesses. The probe follows Lithuania’s launch of a human trafficking investigation in February after local references—including over 1,200 mentions of Lithuania and 1,000 of Vilnius—appeared in newly released Epstein case files.