Poland detains nine suspects in cigarette smuggling scheme using weather balloons from Belarus
Polish border guards on Friday detained nine people suspected of smuggling cigarettes from Belarus into Poland using weather balloons. The seized goods are valued at over 143,000 euros.
Polish border guards detained nine people on Friday, August 28, suspected of smuggling cigarettes from Belarus into Poland using weather balloons, the Polish Border Guard service reported, according to the outlet "Yevropeiska Pravda".
Among those detained were two Lithuanians, three Poles and four Belarusians. According to border guard data, more than 3,900 cartons of cigarettes were discovered during the detentions, with a total value exceeding 621,000 Polish zloty, or more than 143,000 euros.
An investigation is currently underway to identify other individuals who may have been involved in the smuggling activity.
Previous incidents
In April, Polish border guards arrested three men suspected of smuggling goods from Belarus using drones; they face up to three years in prison. In mid-May, 27 people, including civil servants, were detained in Lithuania in connection with smuggling using weather balloons.
