Mysterious Tunnel Discovered Near Lithuanian-Belarusian Border, Investigation Closed
A clandestine tunnel, estimated to be tens of meters long, was discovered in the Šalčininkai district of Lithuania earlier this year, sparking an investigation into its potential use for illicit activities. Despite initial concerns it may have crossed into Belarusian territory, authorities have determined the entire structure remains within Lithuanian borders, leading to the termination of the criminal probe and the tunnel’s subsequent demolition.
The discovery, first reported in January by lrt radio, centered on a 25-meter-long tunnel found in the village of Pašaltis, close to the Belarusian border. This proximity immediately raised suspicions that the tunnel might extend across the international boundary, potentially facilitating cross-border criminal operations.
Initial Concerns of Border Breach
The General Prosecutor’s Office initially investigated the possibility that the tunnel connected Lithuania and Belarus. According to a communications representative from the office, Elena Martinonienė, a comprehensive pre-trial investigation was undertaken. “During the pre-trial investigation, a detailed inspection of the discovered underground structure, measurements, relevant expert investigations and other necessary steps of the process were carried out,” Martinonienė stated to news portal tv3.lt.
However, the investigation ultimately revealed that the tunnel remained entirely within Lithuanian territory. “It was established that the entire construction of this underground tunnel does not cross the state border of the Republic of Lithuania,” Martinonienė confirmed.
Shift to Administrative Offense & Demolition
This finding dramatically altered the legal implications of the tunnel’s construction. Authorities determined that the case did not warrant criminal prosecution, but rather fell under administrative law as an instance of illegal construction. “Therefore, for its installation, which can be assessed as illegal construction, not criminal, but administrative liability is applicable,” Martinonienė explained. The tunnel has since been destroyed.
Unsubstantiated Fears of Criminal Activity
The purpose of the tunnel remained a central question throughout the investigation. Initial speculation centered on potential criminal uses, including smuggling and the trafficking of illegal migrants. However, investigators were unable to gather sufficient evidence to support these theories.
“It was established that the totality of the data collected during the pre-trial investigation is not sufficient in order to substantiate the initial guesses that the underground structure could have been used to commit criminal acts,” Martinonienė asserted.
The Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office ultimately decided to terminate the pre-trial investigation, a decision later affirmed by the Criminal Prosecution Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office as both reasonable and legal. The investigation itself was conducted by officers from the State Border Guard Service’s Pre-trial Investigation Department, under the guidance of the Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office.
Despite the unanswered questions surrounding the tunnel’s original intent, the case is now closed, leaving a lingering mystery about the motivations behind its construction.
Source: tv3.lt
