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The Brief

Up to 25 smuggling balloons from Belarus forced a temporary shutdown of Vilnius Airport.

Authorities seized 18,000 packs of contraband cigarettes from recovered balloons.

The breach heightened Baltic concerns over growing airspace incursions.

Authorities reported that up to 25 small hot-air balloons—some confirmed to be transporting smuggled cigarettes—entered Lithuanian airspace late Saturday, prompting the temporary closure of Vilnius Airport and causing flight delays lasting several hours.

The balloons interfered with 30 flights, impacting some 6,000 passengers, according to Lithuania's National Crisis Management Center. Flights resumed at 4:50 a.m. Sunday.

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While the balloons turned out to be ferrying cigarettes, Europe is on high alert after intrusi

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