Lithuania to Tighten Control on Parcels from Russia to Prevent Sabotage and Transport of Prohibited Military Goods

Lithuanian customs will tighten control over parcels travelling in trains from Russia to prevent a repeat of postal warehouse fires like in Britain and Germany and to prevent the transport of items intended for the Russian armed forces, Delfi reports.

Continuing to tighten control over postal wagons from Russia's Kaliningrad region, Lithuanian customs officials have begun to make extensive use of mobile portable scanners, the Customs Criminal Service said on Thursday.

These devices are used to check both parcels and structural elements of mail wagons. Other inspection methods are being used, and it is only planned to tighten control in the future.

This is in response to ongoing attempts to transport military supplies for the Russian military by train and post from the Kaliningrad region of Russia, mainly camouflage uniforms or parts thereof, and camouflage nets for military equipment.

In less than a month, six such shipments were intercepted: camouflage nets for weapons on 27-29 September, and camouflage nets again on 1, 2 and 4 October, as well as camouflage trousers and camouflage overalls. On 9 October, 21 camouflage suits and 50 camouflage pillows were seized.

Camouflage nets are classified as military material and require a one-time permit issued by a person authorised by the Minister of National Defence of Lithuania. Currently, such permits are not issued.

Camouflage trousers and suits are classified as clothing specially designed for camouflage.

These goods, which, according to customs officials, are intended for Russian troops fighting against Ukraine, are usually sent by members of various NGOs operating in the Kaliningrad region of Russia.

Lithuanian customs passes these confiscations on as support for Ukraine.