Cigarette-smuggling balloons force closure of Lithuanian airport

"Dozens of balloons used by smugglers to transport cigarettes from Belarus into Lithuania forced the temporary closure of Vilnius airport overnight. The Lithuanian capital's airport was closed from 11pm local time on Tuesday to 6.30am on Wednesday. Smugglers use the balloons to send Belarusian cigarettes into the European Union, where tobacco products are more expensive. The head of Lithuania's national crisis management centre, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, described the latest balloon incursion as the most intense this year."

"The decision to suspend flights was made to ensure the safety of civil aviation, he was quoted as saying by the Baltic news agency BNS. Traffic was stopped for the same reason at two land border crossings between Lithuania and Belarus overnight before reopening on Wednesday, Lithuanian border guards said. Lithuania's prime minister, Inga Ruginiene, called on the authorities in Minsk to cooperate to prevent similar incidents in the future."

"Ruginiene said: It's not normal that so many balloons are crossing our border and that we have to intercept them to keep them away from our strategic sites and installations. A similar incident disrupted the operation of Vilnius airport on 5 October, when 25 balloons crossed into Lithuanian airspace. Similar balloons landed earlier this year on Lithuanian soil, including at the airport, and border guards have had the right to shoot them down since last year."

Dozens of balloons carrying cigarettes from Belarus into Lithuania forced Vilnius airport to close from 11pm Tuesday to 6.30am Wednesday. Authorities suspended flights and stopped traffic at two land border crossings to ensure civil aviation safety. Officials described the incursion as the most intense this year and called on Belarus to cooperate to prevent future incidents. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said mass balloon crossings are abnormal and endanger strategic sites. Similar events have occurred this year and on 5 October. Border guards may shoot down balloons and official data show 966 entered last year and over 500 so far this year.

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