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Meteorological devices containing a large quantity of cigarettes have caused flight disruptions in Lithuania, as Vilnius Airport was forced to close for several hours when dozens of them entered the country's airspace.

Aviation Problems

The operational halt led to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers, with authorities cautioning that further disruptions were possible throughout Monday.

National Security Measures

Authorities reported that multiple atmospheric balloons were detected entering Lithuania from the border with Belarus, with two of which ending up precisely above the airport's airspace.

Up to 14 of the atmospheric instruments launched over the weekend passed through the capital region, which is situated near Lithuania's main urban center and adjacent to the Belarusian boundary.

Smuggled Items Retrieved

No fewer than 11 balloons containing eighteen thousand packages of contraband smoking materials have since been recovered, though additional discoveries are expected, according to customs agents.

International Illegal Trade

Despite the disruption, representatives clarified that "Balloons with contraband - cigarettes from Belarus - are not unusual in neighboring countries."

To date in the current year, over five hundred weather devices have been recorded entering Lithuania from Belarus, while nearly a thousand were noted during the prior year.

Neighboring Country Impact

Meanwhile, the border area of Poland, which similarly neighbors Belarus, has registered in excess of 100 cases in which smuggled items were delivered from its neighbor using the weather devices.

Illegal Transport Methods

In response to questions about why smugglers utilize a technique that proves particularly vulnerable to weather elements rather than simpler to operate drones, officials clarified that "Weather devices are simple mechanisms used by illegal traders - they are less expensive than drones for carrying smoking materials from Belarus."

Security Service Goals

Authorities continued that "The goal of law enforcement is to capture the greatest possible amounts of illegal goods and to apprehend coordinators and participants so that this activity become economically unsustainable and present no risk to commercial air travel."

International Concerns

These airspace violations occur during a period of increased concerns in Europe following various aerial device infiltrations that have caused air traffic disruption across European nations.

Similar occurrences in neighboring countries have caused EU officials to speed up talks about strengthening air defences throughout the continent.