A ban on the entry of vehicles from Russia and Belarus into Lithuania has come into force if their tanks contain more than 200 liters of fuel. The restriction will be valid until December 31, 2027.
According to the country's customs department, fines are provided for exceeding the norm, and excess fuel is subject to confiscation.
The department itself initiated the measure. They believe that "excessive" fuel is often drained and resold within the country. In this regard, a maximum refueling norm of 200 liters was established.
According to customs data, about 200 trucks with Russian and Belarusian registration enter Lithuania daily – this is approximately 7.1 thousand vehicles per month. If about 500 liters of diesel are illegally drained from each truck, the total volume can reach 100 thousand liters per day.
The department notes that such schemes lead to budget losses – according to estimates, this amounts to approximately 2.2 million euros per month due to unpaid taxes.
An additional factor was the situation on the fuel market: against the backdrop of recent events in the Middle East, diesel in Lithuania has risen in price by approximately 30%, and gasoline by 20%.
