Polish Police Intercept Balloons Carrying Smuggled Cigarettes
Police reported that on Christmas Eve, seven balloons suspected of carrying smuggled cigarettes crossed from Belarus into Poland. Four were intercepted in the northeastern Podlaskie region, carrying thousands of packs of illegal cigarettes, while the othe
Police reported that on Christmas Eve, seven balloons suspected of carrying smuggled cigarettes entered Poland from Belarus. Four of the balloons were intercepted in the northeastern Podlaskie Voivodeship, where authorities found thousands of packs of illegal cigarettes inside; the other three were tracked in the eastern Lublin Voivodeship. The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said the balloons were monitored by radar, and parts of the airspace were temporarily closed to ensure the safety of civilian flights.
Authorities said the incident highlights how smugglers continue to use radio-controlled weather balloons to transport contraband despite tighter security measures along the Poland-Belarus border. Similar smuggling methods have been detected across the region in recent weeks. Lithuanian officials arrested 21 suspects allegedly involved in balloon-based cigarette smuggling, and on December 9 declared a national state of emergency following repeated airspace intrusions linked to smuggling activities.
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