Polish border police seized a Belarusian balloon carrying 100,000 zlotys worth of illicit cigarettes, arresting two men who were to collect the shipment on Monday in Podlaskie.
Belarusian Balloon Hits Poland
On Monday, 10 October, officials of the Podlaskie Border Guard reported finding a balloon, launched from Belarus, that contained illegal cigarettes valued at over 100,000 zlotys.
Two men were arrested for attempting to retrieve the contraband shipment.
Scale of the Smuggling Operation
In the current year, the Podlaskie Border Guard logged 118 balloon smuggling incidents and 18 drone cases.
Officials estimated the total value of the revealed cigarettes at 3.4 million zlotys, and 29 individuals have been detained for their involvement.
Drones Drop Cigarettes Earlier
At the beginning of November, a drone fell over the Krynki municipality carrying roughly 400 cigarette packages with Belarusian excise.
Balloon as a Hybrid Warfare Tool
Since late October, dozens of Belarusian meteorological balloons have reached Lithuania as well, paralysing airports and prompting the closure of two border crossings with Belarus until 30 November.
Experts from the Center for Eastern Studies view the balloons as an instrument of the ongoing hybrid war, noting that cross‑border tobacco trafficking generates substantial profits for the Lukashenko regime.
