🔗 Share this article Balloons Utilized to Contraband Tobacco Products Forced Closure of Lithuanian Airport At least 11 of the weather balloons, carrying 18,000 packages of illegal cigarettes, have been collected so far Weather balloons transporting numerous packages of cigarettes have disrupted flights in Lithuania, as Lithuania's primary air hub was required to halt operations for hours when numerous of them drifted across the airspace of Lithuania. Flight Disruptions The airport closure led to thirty canceled flights impacting six thousand travelers, with airport representatives alerting that delays might continue throughout Monday. Border Security Response Officials confirmed that multiple atmospheric balloons were detected entering Lithuania from the border with Belarus, with a pair of them ending up right above the main terminal. Up to 14 of the atmospheric instruments deployed throughout the weekend drifted across the metropolitan zone, which is the location of Lithuania's main urban center and adjacent to the border with Belarus. Contraband Recovery A minimum of 11 balloons containing 18,000 packs of contraband smoking materials have since been recovered, though this number could rise, according to law enforcement authorities. International Illegal Trade Although causing problems, officials emphasized that "Balloons with contraband - tobacco products originating in Belarus - are not unusual in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland." To date in the current year, 544 balloons have been observed infiltrating Lithuania from Belarus, while 966 were noted during the prior year. Neighboring Country Impact Simultaneously, the border area of Poland, which also borders Belarus, has documented over one hundred incidents in which contraband was flown from its border nation utilizing the balloons. Illegal Transport Methods Regarding inquiries concerning why criminal organizations employ a method that is highly susceptible to weather elements rather than easier to manage drones, authorities explained that "Atmospheric equipment are rudimentary tools used by contraband transporters - they are cheaper than drones for transporting cigarettes from Belarus." Border Protection Aims Officials added that "Our services' aim is to confiscate the maximum possible volumes of smuggled items and to apprehend coordinators and involved individuals so that this activity become unprofitable and create minimal risk to passenger aircraft." International Concerns Such border infiltrations occur during a time of growing anxiety in Europe following various aerial device infiltrations that have resulted in flight interruptions across the continent. Recent incidents in neighboring countries have prompted European leaders to speed up talks about enhancing aerial security throughout the continent.