Balloon Intrusion: Smuggling Cigarettes via Lithuanian Airspace

Up to 25 hot-air balloons, some carrying smuggled cigarettes, entered Lithuanian airspace late Saturday, prompting the closure of Vilnius Airport and causing flight delays for hours, officials report. The incursion affected 30 flights and inconvenienced 6,000 passengers, the National Crisis Management Centre said. Flights resumed early Sunday morning.

Despite these balloons transporting cigarettes, Europe remains vigilant amid heightened fear of airspace intrusions. Last month saw a surge in NATO airspace violations, which some European authorities suspect as tests of NATO's defensive readiness by Moscow, raising security concerns.

Lithuania and the Baltic nations are especially uneasy following recent drone incidents believed to be Russian-made. Parliament has since authorized military forces to down unmanned drones invading its airspace. The balloons, recorded between Saturday evening and early Sunday, are part of a growing trend of Belarusian cigarette smuggling using airspace as a conduit.

(With inputs from agencies.)