Another Lithuanian border guard detained in abuse-of-office probe

Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service has detained another officer suspected of abuse of office and illegally handling excise goods, LRT reported.

The junior specialist at the Kapčiamiestis border station was detained off duty on Wednesday in the Lazdijai district. Officers from the Pagėgiai Border Guard District’s Criminal Intelligence Division and the service’s Immunity Board carried out the detention.

A pre-trial investigation into suspected unlawful handling of excise goods and abuse of office had already been launched in the Pagėgiai district. A prosecutor from the Third Criminal Prosecution Division of the Kaunas Regional Prosecutor’s Office is directing the investigation. The detention was one of the investigative steps taken in the case.

The Kapčiamiestis officer has been formally suspected of abuse of office and unlawful handling of excise goods. This year, investigations by the Immunity Board have led to 14 officers being suspected of corruption-related crimes.