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Weather balloons transporting thousands of packs of cigarettes have disrupted flights in Lithuania, as Lithuania's primary air hub was compelled to shut down for hours when multiple of them floated into the national airspace.

Flight Disruptions

The airport closure led to thirty canceled flights impacting thousands of passengers, with authorities cautioning that further disruptions were possible throughout Monday.

National Security Measures

Border security stated that twenty-five weather balloons were observed crossing into Lithuania from neighboring Belarus, with two of which ending up right above the airport's airspace.

Approximately 14 of the weather balloons launched over the weekend floated over the metropolitan zone, which is home to Lithuania's primary metropolis and near the frontier with Belarus.

Contraband Recovery

No fewer than 11 balloons transporting numerous containers of black-market cigarettes have since been recovered, though additional discoveries are expected, according to border security officials.

Cross-Border Contraband Trend

Although causing problems, authorities noted that "Weather devices carrying illegal goods - cigarettes from Belarus - are not unusual in the Baltic region and Poland."

Since January, over five hundred weather devices have been observed infiltrating Lithuania from Belarus, while 966 were recorded last year.

Cross-Border Effects

Meanwhile, the border area of Poland, which likewise adjoins Belarus, has registered in excess of one hundred incidents in which smuggled items were delivered from its neighbor using the weather devices.

Smuggling Techniques

When questioned about why smugglers utilize a technique that proves especially affected by weather conditions rather than more controllable drones, authorities explained that "Meteorological balloons are rudimentary tools used by contraband transporters - they are cheaper than drones for carrying smoking materials from Belarus."

Security Service Goals

Officials added that "Our services' aim is to capture the greatest possible amounts of illegal goods and to apprehend coordinators and perpetrators so that these practices become economically unsustainable and create minimal risk to commercial air travel."

International Concerns

These airspace violations occur during an era marked by increased concerns in Europe following numerous drone incursions that have caused air traffic disruption across European nations.

Similar occurrences in adjacent nations have prompted European leaders to speed up talks about enhancing aerial security throughout European airspace.