Lithuania's Vilnius Airport Closed Overnight Due to Cigarette-Smuggling Balloons from Belarus
By
n1b0m
A good honest bake. Not flashy, but you'll finish the whole bagel.
Summary
Vilnius Airport in Lithuania was forced to close overnight due to dozens of balloons being used by smugglers to transport cigarettes from Belarus into the European Union. The airport suspended flights from 11pm Tuesday to 6:30am Wednesday for safety reasons, with officials describing this as the most intense balloon incursion of the year. Smugglers exploit the price difference in tobacco products between Belarus and the EU by using balloons to bypass border controls.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledDozens of balloons used by smugglers to transport cigarettes from Belarus into Lithuania forced the temporary closure of Vilnius airport overnight
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'
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