On Sunday, August 30th, 2026, Latvian border guards in the Augšdaugava region discovered a drone used to smuggle cigarettes across the border. The drone was found during a border zone survey in forest in Demene parish. It was an unmanned aerial vehicle with a rectangular box of smuggled cigarettes wrapped in white polyethylene film attached underneath. A total of 15,000 'NZ Gold' cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps were seized. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Section 190, Part 1 of the Latvian Criminal Law for smuggling a significant amount. The drone was also seized as part of the proceedings.

On Sunday, August 30th, 2026, Latvian border guards in the Augšdaugava region discovered a drone used to smuggle cigarettes across the border. The drone was found during a border zone survey in forest in Demene parish. It was an unmanned aerial vehicle with a rectangular box of smuggled cigarettes wrapped in white polyethylene film attached underneath. A total of 15,000 'NZ Gold' cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps were seized. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Section 190, Part 1 of the Latvian Criminal Law for smuggling a significant amount. The drone was also seized as part of the proceedings.