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Weather balloons transporting numerous packages of cigarettes have interfered with air travel in Lithuania, as Lithuania's primary air hub was forced to close for hours when numerous of them entered the national airspace.

Air Travel Interruptions

The airport closure led to the cancellation of 30 flights disrupting thousands of passengers, with authorities cautioning that further disruptions were possible throughout Monday.

Law Enforcement Actions

Officials confirmed that multiple atmospheric balloons were detected entering Lithuania from the adjacent country of Belarus, with two balloons ending up directly over the main terminal.

Approximately 14 of the weather balloons deployed throughout the weekend passed through the capital region, which is home to Lithuania's main urban center and near the frontier with Belarus.

Smuggled Items Retrieved

At least 11 balloons containing 18,000 packs of illegal tobacco products have since been recovered, though this number could rise, according to customs agents.

Regional Smuggling Pattern

Despite the disruption, authorities noted that "Meteorological equipment transporting smuggled items - tobacco products originating in Belarus - are nothing new in the Baltic region and Poland."

To date in the current year, 544 balloons have been recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus, while nearly a thousand were noted during the prior year.

Neighboring Country Impact

At the same time, the border area of Poland, which similarly neighbors Belarus, has recorded more than 100 cases in which smuggled items were delivered from its adjacent country employing the weather devices.

Smuggling Techniques

In response to questions about why criminals use a method that is especially affected by weather factors rather than easier to manage drones, authorities explained that "Meteorological balloons are simple mechanisms used by smugglers - they are less expensive than drones for carrying smoking materials from Belarus."

Border Protection Aims

Authorities continued that "The objective of our agencies is to seize the largest possible amounts of illegal goods and to arrest masterminds and participants so that this activity become not financially viable and create minimal risk to passenger aircraft."

European Tensions

The recent incidents occur during a period of heightened tension in Europe following multiple unmanned aircraft violations that have created aviation problems across European nations.

Similar occurrences in nearby states have led European authorities to speed up talks about strengthening air defences throughout the region.