Belarusian smugglers are now using balloons instead of drones for cigarette smuggling, as balloons are cheaper than drones. Border police have recovered 11 balloons, along with approximately 18,000 packs of cigarettes. This year, Lithuanian police have apprehended 544 balloons, compared to 966 last year. The border police state that both balloons and drones are illegal for smuggling but that the incident is not a political attack or act of sabotage. The event has highlighted new smuggling methods and challenges to border security in Lithuania.
