Lithuanian border guards seize over 282,000 euros in smuggled cigarettes

Lithuanian border guards intercepted a significant contraband cigarette operation early Wednesday morning, seizing over 282,000 euros worth of illegal tobacco. Acting on intelligence about smuggled goods being thrown from a cargo train arriving from the Kaliningrad region, officers from the VSAT Pagėgiai Border District's Criminal Intelligence Division, along with colleagues from the "Kovas" Special Purpose Unit, set up a targeted operation.

The operation led to the interception of a "Mercedes-Benz Vito" minivan on the Vilnius-Kaunas-Klaipėda highway. The vehicle, driven by a 38-year-old Vilnius resident, contained 45,500 packs of "NZ Gold" cigarettes bearing Belarusian stamps.

Further investigation on the same highway resulted in stopping a "Peugeot 807" carrying an additional 11,000 packs of the same brand. In total, 56,500 packs of contraband cigarettes, packed in 1,130 standard boxes, were seized from both vehicles. Three Vilnius residents were apprehended in connection with the smuggling.

Following interrogations, one suspect received a written pledge not to leave the country, while another was detained for 10 days. A pre-trial investigation has been launched by the VSAT Pagėgiai Border District for illegal possession of excise-taxable goods. Three men driving the vehicles have been remanded in custody for one to two months by a court.