Balloons carrying thousands of packs of cigarettes have disrupted flights in Lithuania, as Vilnius Airport was forced to close for hours when dozens of them floated into the country's airspace.
The National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) told the BBC that 25 meteorological balloons were detected entering Lithuania from neighbouring Belarus, two of which ended up directly over the airport.
The airport said the shutdown led to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers. It warned that there may still be delays on Monday.
The airspace violations come at a time of heightened tension in Europe after several drone incursions, suspected of being linked to Russia, caused air traffic disruption.
Moscow has denied any involvement in the recent incidents, yet officials revealed that up to 14 balloons launched over the weekend floated over the Vilnius area, close to the border with Belarus.
At least 11 balloons carrying 18,000 packs of black-market cigarettes have since been recovered, though this number could rise, according to Lithuania's State Border Guard Service.
Despite the disruption they caused, a NCMC spokesman noted: Balloons with contraband cargo - cigarettes from Belarus - are nothing new in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. This year alone, 544 balloons have been recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus, while 966 were reported last year.
The situation raises important questions about the smuggling methods utilized, with a NCMC spokesperson explaining that meteorological balloons are a cost-effective method compared to drones, despite being less controllable and susceptible to the weather.
Authorities are actively working to curb such smuggling activities as part of efforts to minimize risks to civil aviation while tackling the broader implications of contraband trafficking in the region.
