Law enforcement operation in Šalčininkai as two people taken away

A law enforcement operation is underway in the Lithuanian town of Šalčininkai, where officers removed a man and a woman from a residential building on Monday morning, local media outlet LRT reports.

Residents shared unconfirmed reports on social media that authorities arrived at a property on Sniadeckio Street around 6 a.m., with further activity observed at the district municipality offices by 8 a.m. A witness told LRT that officers from the Aras special task unit entered the building after one of the suspects was seen pacing outside. A luxury Mercedes with the provocative license plate “3AKOH” (Russian for “law”) was later towed from the premises.

The Vilnius County Chief Police Commissariat confirmed to LRT that an operation was taking place but declined to provide details, stating that a public statement would follow. Preliminary information suggests the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau (LKPB) is leading the operation.

Local authorities acknowledged that officers had visited the municipality building but did not disclose the purpose. Unofficial sources link the individuals to a cigarette smuggling ring operating between Belarus and Lithuania, with one suspect possibly employed by the State Border Guard Service (VSAT). A VSAT spokesperson told LRT the agency had no official information about the detentions.