Balloons carrying numerous packages of cigarettes have interfered with air travel in Lithuania, as Vilnius Airport was forced to close for an extended period when numerous of them drifted across the country's airspace.
The airport closure led to the cancellation of 30 flights impacting six thousand travelers, with airport representatives alerting that further disruptions were possible throughout Monday.
Border security stated that 25 meteorological balloons were spotted infiltrating Lithuania from the adjacent country of Belarus, with a pair of them ending up directly over the main terminal.
As many as 14 of the meteorological devices sent during the weekend passed through the capital region, which is situated near Lithuania's capital city and close to the Belarusian boundary.
No fewer than 11 balloons transporting 18,000 packs of black-market cigarettes have been collected so far, though more recoveries are anticipated, according to law enforcement authorities.
Despite the disruption, officials emphasized that "Meteorological equipment transporting smuggled items - Belarusian smoking products - are nothing new in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland."
To date in the current year, over five hundred weather devices have been documented crossing into Lithuania from Belarus, while nearly a thousand were recorded last year.
Simultaneously, the north-eastern Polish territory, which similarly neighbors Belarus, has registered in excess of 100 cases in which illegal goods were transported from its border nation utilizing the weather devices.
When questioned about why criminals use a method that is particularly vulnerable to weather conditions rather than easier to manage drones, authorities explained that "Weather devices are basic instruments used by contraband transporters - they are cheaper than drones for carrying smoking materials from Belarus."
Officials added that "The goal of law enforcement is to seize the largest possible quantities of contraband and to arrest masterminds and participants so that this activity become not financially viable and do not pose risk to commercial air travel."
These airspace violations occur during a period of increased concerns in Europe following numerous drone incursions that have resulted in flight interruptions across the region.
Recent incidents in adjacent nations have caused EU officials to accelerate discussions about strengthening air defences throughout the region.
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