Lithuania’s airspace faced unprecedented disruption as dozens of weather balloons carrying contraband cigarettes floated into the country from neighboring Belarus. The incident forced Vilnius Airport to shut down for several hours, resulting in the cancellation of 30 flights and affecting approximately 6,000 passengers. Authorities reported that 25 meteorological balloons were detected entering Lithuanian airspace, with two directly hovering over the airport. So far, 11 balloons carrying 18,000 packs of black-market cigarettes have been recovered, though officials anticipate this number may rise. This incident adds to the growing tension in Europe, following recent drone incursions suspected to be linked to Russia, which Moscow has denied. The National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) noted that such balloon-based smuggling is not new, with 544 recorded cases this year and 966 last year. Similar incidents have been reported in Poland’s Podlaskie region, which also borders Belarus. A Belarusian citizen was recently detained in Poland for smuggling cigarettes using a balloon, with geolocation data linking him to the illicit goods. The NCMC explained that smugglers prefer meteorological balloons over drones due to their lower cost, despite their susceptibility to weather conditions. Authorities aim to seize contraband and detain perpetrators to curb this activity, which poses risks to civil aviation. Meanwhile, European leaders are accelerating discussions on strengthening air defenses following recent drone-related disruptions in Denmark, Norway, and Germany. Russia has denied involvement in these incidents, despite being blamed for earlier airspace violations in Poland, Estonia, and Romania.