On Thursday evening, the attention of VSAT Varėna Border Unit officers from the Kapčiamiestis border post, who were scouting the border section near the village of Kuodžiai (Lazdijai district), was drawn to sounds coming from the Belarusian side. Such sounds are usually made by flying drones.
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The border guards immediately used two available anti-drone devices in that direction and blocked the violation area.
While inspecting the area, VSAT officers found a fallen blue drone in the forest, and 50 meters away from it – a bundle wrapped in transparent polyethylene film.
Continuing the inspection, after a few minutes the border guards found a second drone, white in color, and about 20 meters from it – another bundle. Soon a third drone was found, blue, and a third bundle a few meters away from it.
The fourth drone, white, also lost a similar cargo, found a few minutes later.
In less than half an hour, the border guards collected four smugglers’ drones, each carrying one bundle.
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After taking the findings to the Kapčiamiestis border post, VSAT officers examined them and counted 4,000 packs of “NZ Gold” and “NZ Black” cigarettes with Belarusian tax stamps. The value of this amount of tobacco, including all mandatory taxes in Lithuania, is 21,840 euros.
A pre-trial investigation has been initiated at the VSAT Varėna Border Unit for illegal handling of excise goods, led by a prosecutor from the 2nd Criminal Prosecution Division of the Kaunas District Prosecutor’s Office. Such a criminal act is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to six years.
The smuggled cigarettes and drones are temporarily stored at the Kapčiamiestis border post.
In less than seven months of 2026, border guards have grounded 42 smugglers’ drones.
Last year, VSAT officers seized 59 drones that flew in from Belarus. In 2024, 54 drones with Belarusian cigarettes were grounded.
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