Lithuania: Lukashenko Attracts Criminals From Both Countries For Smuggling

The head of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service revealed the details.

Amid ongoing cases of smuggled balloons launched from Belarus entering Lithuania, the head of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (LBGS) Rustam Ljubaev said that Minsk is engaging criminals within both countries to organize hybrid actions, LRT reports.

"The Lukashenko regime, in an effort to achieve its goals, is engaging criminals from both Belarus and Lithuania. That's why we are talking about fighting both groups that are involved in smuggling in Lithuania and specifically balloon smuggling," Lyubaev said.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Interior earlier reported a large-scale operation to prevent smuggling from Belarus to Lithuania by balloons and to identify those involved. The operation involved more than 100 officers from various law enforcement agencies, who conducted more than 30 searches.

Lubayev said this is just one of the ongoing activities.

"But this operation has given a lot of information, meaningful information, to continue actions," he said.

To stop smuggling through the air route, a joint investigation team was set up by order of the Lithuanian interior minister, which includes officers from the SOGG, police, customs and the Financial Crimes Investigation Service.

The head of the Lithuanian border guards said officers receive threats and even face actions in response to stopping smuggling.

"I can give an example when vehicles of officers working in the border zone are damaged. This is, let's say, the revenge of these criminals who are engaged in smuggling or other illegal activities," he noted.

Liubayev called the penetration of smuggling balloons a hybrid attack by Minsk.

"We see manifestations of hybrid actions. This is not news: it's not the first time the Belarusian regime organizes a hybrid attack against Lithuania, and its methods of action, in fact, do not change," said Lyubaev.

We will recall that a month ago, on October 29, Lithuania closed the border with Belarus in connection with the increasing incidents of arrival of weather balloons with contraband, which threatened the work of airports. After that, Belarus actually banned the exit of Lithuanian trucks - allowing it only through the Lithuanian border crossings, which were closed.

November 20, the work of the two closed border crossings was resumed. However, the Lithuanian trucks, stuck in Belarus, still can't return home. They were forcibly sent to paid parking lots. The association of Lithuanian trucking companies Linava called the situation a racketeering. Although earlier the association expressed dissatisfaction with the Lithuanian authorities who closed the border.

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