Smuggling balloons hit power lines, carrying at least 15,000 cigarette packs

Smuggling balloons carrying at least 15,000 packs of cigarettes hit power lines and exploded in Kėdainiai and Kaišiadorys districts, frightening residents. The balloons were part of a smuggling operation, LRT reported.

In fields near Šakniai village, cigarettes and burned packs were scattered after a fire broke out at about 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Firefighters who responded found a balloon that had struck power lines and exploded. The wreckage fell away from homes, and around 250 cigarette packs were found in the fields.

In Padotnuvys village in Kėdainiai district, an explosion woke residents at about 5.30 a.m. One man said he saw flames above the power lines and fire falling to the ground. He went outside but could not see what had caused it and feared it might be a drone. Residents saw scattered boxes and called emergency services.

Police said the balloons had carried about 15,000 packs of cigarettes. Giedrius Mišutis, a representative of the State Border Guard Service, said it was unlikely a single balloon could carry that amount, suggesting more than one may have been involved.

Mišutis said the number of smuggling balloons this year was more than three times lower than last year, when their use peaked. He attributed the decline to tougher penalties introduced last year for smuggling by dangerous means, successful law enforcement operations and the declaration of a state-level emergency over the balloons.

Cigarettes are brought from Belarus into Lithuania by both balloons and drones. Border guards have intercepted more drones this year than in previous years.