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Weather balloons transporting thousands of packs of cigarettes have caused flight disruptions in Lithuania, as Vilnius Airport was forced to close for hours when multiple of them entered the airspace of Lithuania.

Flight Disruptions

The temporary shutdown led to 30 flight cancellations impacting six thousand travelers, with airport representatives alerting that further disruptions were possible throughout Monday.

National Security Measures

Border security stated that twenty-five weather balloons were spotted infiltrating Lithuania from the adjacent country of Belarus, with two balloons ending up directly over the airport's airspace.

Up to 14 of the weather balloons launched over the weekend floated over the capital region, which is situated near Lithuania's primary metropolis and near the frontier with Belarus.

Contraband Recovery

No fewer than 11 balloons transporting eighteen thousand packages of black-market cigarettes have since been recovered, though additional discoveries are expected, according to law enforcement authorities.

International Illegal Trade

Despite the disruption, officials emphasized that "Meteorological equipment transporting smuggled items - Belarusian smoking products - are nothing new in neighboring countries."

To date in the current year, 544 balloons have been observed infiltrating Lithuania from Belarus, while 966 were documented the previous year.

Regional Consequences

Simultaneously, the north-eastern Podlaskie region, which likewise adjoins Belarus, has registered in excess of 100 cases in which smuggled items were delivered from its adjacent country employing the weather devices.

Illegal Transport Methods

In response to questions about why criminal organizations employ a approach that remains particularly vulnerable to weather elements rather than simpler to operate drones, officials clarified that "Meteorological balloons are rudimentary tools used by smugglers - they are more economical than drones for carrying smoking materials from Belarus."

Security Service Goals

Representatives further stated that "The objective of our agencies is to confiscate the maximum possible quantities of contraband and to apprehend coordinators and perpetrators so that this activity become economically unsustainable and create minimal risk to commercial air travel."

International Concerns

Such border infiltrations occur during a period of heightened tension in Europe following various aerial device infiltrations that have created aviation problems across the region.

Recent incidents in neighboring countries have caused EU officials to speed up talks about improving airspace protection throughout European airspace.