An unexpected sight in the middle of the night in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The smugglers were arrested

An unexpected sight in the middle of the night

In one of the towns in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, a teenager noticed through the window a huge balloon with a mysterious package landing on a pasture belonging to his parents. He alerted his parents, who immediately notified the police.

When the household members went outside to check what happened, a car with two men drove into their property. The strangers said they just wanted to take the parcel. The situation quickly escalated when they learned that officers were already on their way to the scene. They tried to leave the vehicle, but the owner of the property successfully prevented them from doing so until the police arrived.

They claimed they were looking for a friend who was at the wedding

After the Białystok policemen arrived at the scene, the smugglers began to give twisted explanations. The 41-year-old and his 38-year-old partner explained that they came across the private property by accident. They claimed they were looking for a friend they were supposed to pick up from a wedding. The officers did not believe the men and quickly detained them.

The balloon and the package attached to it were checked by pyrotechnicians. It turned out that the package contained as much as 3,000. packs of cigarettes of various brands that do not have Polish excise stamps. According to estimates, introducing this amount of illegal tobacco products to the market would expose the State Treasury to a loss exceeding PLN 100,000. zlotys.

Additionally, during a search of the apartment of one of the detainees, the officers found small amounts of drugs in his bathrobe pocket. Initial examination showed it was marijuana.

Up to 5 years in prison

The 41-year-old and his 38-year-old partner were charged with violating the ban on preventing support for aggression against Ukraine and protecting national security, smuggling tobacco products using weather balloons across the Polish-Belarusian border and causing a direct event that threatened the life or health of many people. Additionally, the 38-year-old will be charged with drug possession. They face a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

The court decided on three months of pre-trial detention for both men.