Buying Heroin Lithuania

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Buying Heroin Lithuania

Activities by an organized crime group involving the illegal entry, transit or residence of migrants for a financial or material benefit. The production, transport, storage and sale of goods that are fraudulently mislabeled or fraudulent imitations of registered brands. The illicit transport, handling and sale of excise consumer goods despite a ban or outside a legal market. Excludes oil and counterfeits. The illicit trade and possession of species covered by CITES convention, and other species protected under national law. The poaching, illicit trade in and possession of species covered by CITES and other species protected by national law. Includes IUU fishing. The illicit extraction, smuggling, mingling, bunkering or mining of natural resources and the illicit trade of such commodities. The production, distribution and sale of heroin. Consumption of the drug is considered in determining the reach of the criminal market. The production, distribution and sale of cocaine and its derivatives. Consumption is considered in determining the reach of the market. The illicit cultivation, distribution and sale of cannabis oil, resin, herb or leaves. Consumption is used to determine the market's reach. The production, distribution and sale of synthetic drugs. Organized crime that results in a monetary loss via financial fraud, embezzlement, misuse of funds, tax evasion and abusive tax avoidance. Clearly defined organized crime groups that usually have a known name, defined leadership, territorial control and identifiable membership. Loose networks of criminal associates engaging in criminal activities who fail to meet the defining characteristics of mafia-style groups. Includes foreign nationals and diaspora groups. The State's role in responding to organized crime and its effectiveness. The degree to which states have put oversight mechanisms in place to ensure against state collusion in illicit activities. A country's supranational structures and processes of interaction, policy making and concrete implementation to respond to organized crime. The degree to which states are able to control their physical and cyber territory and infrastructure against organized criminal activities. Assistance provided to victims of various forms of organized crime, including initiatives such as witness protection programs. Refers to the existence of strategies, measures, resource allocation, programmes and processes that are aimed to inhibit organized crime. Despite it being a relatively small country with most relevant anti-trafficking measures in place, Lithuania still serves as an origin and transit country for human trafficking; and increasingly as a destination country. Lithuanian citizens are mostly trafficked within other European countries for purposes such as prostitution, fictitious marriages and forced labour. The UK, Spain and Germany are prominent destination markets for Lithuanian trafficking victims, with a growing number of male victims being targeted for forced labour. Within Lithuania, foreign nationals particularly from Eastern Europe outside the EU are exploited in the labour market. While there are indications of potential corruption among law enforcement officials, such as police officers or border guards who may be involved in facilitating human trafficking activities, the specific practices remain unclear. As a transit country for trafficking, victims from various Eastern European countries including Russia and Belarus have been observed passing through Lithuania en route to Western Europe. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has further contributed to a growing number of instances where refugees from both countries have become victims of exploitation. With regards to human smuggling operations, Lithuania primarily functions as a transit country for individuals en route to Western Europe. Such operations are present but exert minimal influence over Lithuanian society. Smuggled individuals typically enter Lithuania from Belarus or Latvia, following routes that span countries like Afghanistan, Russia and Belarus. They pass through Lithuania, Poland or Latvia before reaching their final destination. Criminal networks associated with Russia reportedly organize and maintain these smuggling routes. Belarusian travel companies have also facilitated the transportation of people to the border, including Belarusian citizens and individuals from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Lithuania's increased role as a transit country has led the EU to propose a blacklist to identify and track smugglers caught crossing the Belarusian border. Extortion practices are allegedly prevalent within refugee and migration camps in Lithuania. In a few cases, victims were extorted for basic amenities, such as showers and the use of toilets. Perpetrators usually intimidate victims using threats of physical violence, especially in cases where victims refuse to pay money demanded. Arms trafficking in Lithuania often involves the diversion of illegally assembled and modified firearms. In recent years, the majority of seized firearms were models that had been altered by criminals to fire live ammunition. Stringent regulations may have reduced the availability of such weapons, but there is still existing technical knowledge and experience in firearm conversion. Illicit firearms are known to be sold online and delivered by postal and courier services. The ongoing war in Ukraine has also led to an increase in the purchase of legal arms among Lithuanians, potentially creating a risk of individuals turning to illicit sources due to limited supplies from authorized retailers. Counterfeit goods constitute a relatively small criminal market in Lithuania. During the COVID pandemic, however, there was an increase in the prevalence of these products, including counterfeit foodstuff. European authorities, in collaboration with local police, have conducted checks and seizures of counterfeit products — not only in Lithuania but also in other EU member states. Recent studies have revealed that a noteworthy percentage of young people in Lithuania intentionally purchased counterfeit goods, surpassing the EU average. The illicit trade of excise goods, particularly tobacco products, is a prevalent issue. Lithuania has become one of the players in the illicit production and distribution of tobacco products within the EU. Cigarette smuggling constitutes a significant portion of smuggling cases, resulting in substantial financial losses. The trade involves small-scale consumers within the country, and large-scale transit to Western European countries from cheap factories in Belarus and Russia. Networks have been formed to engage in this trade in Lithuania. Cigarette smuggling has increased in recent year: smugglers reportedly use tactics such as drones and border waterways to transport goods. The criminal market for flora is almost non-existent in Lithuania. The illegal logging of timber is a concern, however, although it is difficult to assess the scale and impact of this market due to limited information. Generally, more cases of illegal logging are reported in private forests than state-owned woodlands. The illegal wildlife trade is more problematic: Lithuania is both a source and transit country in this market. Marginal hunting and illegal fishing are prevalent in the country — both tend to increase during periods of economic crisis. Although relatively limited in size and scope, the country has been implicated in cases of wildlife crime including illegal hunting and fishing, and the smuggling of rhino horn, mammal skins such as bears , caviar and tigers. The poaching of wolves has also been reported. These illegal wildlife cases are often concealed and authorities seldom issue fines. Despite media coverage of poachers being apprehended, very few criminal cases related to illegal hunting or fishing are initiated annually. While Lithuania is not abundant in natural resources, it serves as a destination and transit country for the illicit trade of amber. This criminal market is connected to demand in Asia and corruption within the country. The illegal amber smuggling market is connected to criminal groups in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Amber of various sizes is smuggled: from small pieces used in paintings and jewellery to large nuggets. The precious stones often enter into Lithuania from the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, for local use or to be redistributed and smuggled to countries in Western Europe. In addition to amber, Lithuania has reported numerous cases involving illegal fuel. Criminal groups reportedly mix diesel fuel with other substances to create an alternative oil that is sold abroad to evade excise duties. Illicit fuel is commonly purchased by Latvians and smuggled by Russian and Belarusian crime groups. Heroin destined for Lithuania originates in Central Asia and is transported across Russia and Belarus before being redistributed within European markets, including the Kaliningrad region of Russia. The smuggling of heroin is carried out by various international organized criminal groups. However, there have also been recorded attempts by Lithuanian gangs to import heroin into Ireland and the UK. Regarding the cocaine trade, Lithuania primarily serves as a transit country. Although cocaine is the second most-seized drug, it remains relatively unpopular in Lithuanian society due to its high cost. Most of the cocaine seized in Lithuania enters through the seaport of Klaipeda and is destined for Belarus, Russia or Scandinavian countries, passing through the UK, the Netherlands or Germany. The cocaine trade in Lithuania also relies on international connections with South American and African countries. Lithuania also acts as a transit country for cannabis, which remains the most frequently consumed drug despite social perceptions, police crackdowns and stricter legislation. Small-scale local cultivation of cannabis is uncommon, but evidence suggests that it does occur in Lithuania. Cannabis products are typically smuggled into the country from the Netherlands, Spain or Belgium and trafficked through Poland or on various maritime and land routes that use the Klaipeda seaport as the main point of entry. In terms of synthetic drugs, Lithuania holds strategic importance in the global trade due to its proximity to trafficking routes and key seizure points. The country has close links with the synthetic drug trade and with organized criminal groups involved in the distribution, sale and transportation of amphetamine-type drugs, which are primarily destined for Baltic and Scandinavian countries. In north-east Europe, Lithuanian and Polish organized crime groups dominate the production of synthetic drugs. These groups smuggle the drugs into Russia, Belarus and Scandinavia using land routes through Poland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, or using sea routes through Lithuania, Estonia and Sweden. The Lithuanian criminal groups have been documented trafficking drugs to the UK, where they are subsequently redistributed within the Lithuanian diaspora. Within Lithuania itself, there has been a recent increase in the popularity of certain synthetic drugs, particularly among young people and clubgoers, with a focus on substances like carfentanil, a synthetic opioid. It is suspected that some small-scale production laboratories for synthetic drugs may be located in Lithuania. Lithuania has a high rate of cybercrime and the market is quite developed. In , cyber incidents became more targeted and complex, resulting in increased damage. Hosting providers were the most affected targets, followed by internet service providers and critical information infrastructure. Notable incidents included data leaks and hybrid attacks against institutional websites. Cyber incidents continued to rise in , particularly after the start of the war in Ukraine. Malware distribution remained prevalent: authorities recorded more than a thousand cases. Intrusion attempts and successful intrusions also increased, while distributed denial-of-service attacks showed a downward trend. Ransomware cases also saw a rise, driven by the demand for stolen personal information. Lithuania faced cyber threats from adversarial states such as Russia and China, with ghost-writer hacking operations attributed to Russia. Financial crimes in Lithuania have experienced a significant increase, resulting in substantial economic damage. The most prevalent financial crime is tax fraud. This is largely due to Lithuania's proximity to Belarus and Russia, which makes it a target for various tax evasion schemes. Value added tax VAT fraud has been specifically identified as the primary source of illicit income. There have been cases where certain Lithuanian companies misused pandemic relief funds to acquire luxury vehicles and yachts, taking advantage of tax refund claims under their companies. Along with Estonia, Lithuania has also gained a reputation for being an offshore financial service centre, which exposes the country to vulnerabilities related to financial crimes. Mafia-style groups operating in Lithuania are involved in a range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, tobacco smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering. While these groups previously had rigid hierarchies, many have now adopted a more flexible and decentralized structure. They collaborate and divide illicit markets among themselves, although tensions may exist between them. Despite this, major conflicts have been relatively uncommon in recent years. These mafia-type groups extend their influence beyond Lithuania and have a presence in several European countries. Smaller criminal networks have also become increasingly sophisticated over the past decade. They have adapted to changes in technology, law enforcement capabilities and international cooperation. While they still focus on local activities like tobacco and drug smuggling, they have also expanded their operations across borders. Smaller networks tend to concentrate in cities, while larger groups engage in transnational activities. Lithuanian criminal networks collaborate with groups from South America and Central Asia, particularly in drug trafficking. They take advantage of the migration of the Lithuanian population to countries within the Schengen Area, to establish their presence and carry out criminal activities. Law enforcement efforts have achieved some successes in dismantling these groups. Lithuania has a long history of various foreign crime groups operating within its territory, including Russian, Polish, Chechen and Georgian criminal organizations. Despite their prevalence, the activity intensity of these groups is generally low: most are small and operate locally. Their activities involve human smuggling and trafficking, smuggling of cigarettes, alcohol, arms and car parts. Larger organized criminal groups mainly focus on drug trafficking. Corruption linked to organized crime is primarily associated with drug trafficking, and the country continues to face challenges in addressing corruption within the government and various public institutions. Recent evidence has also emerged of officers from the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service collaborating with organized criminal groups involved in smuggling. In the private sector, organized crime cases often involve cross-border VAT fraud, money laundering, fraudulent bookkeeping and procurement irregularities. Overall, Lithuania is recognized as a stable country with a commitment to fighting organized crime and corruption. Political fragmentation has hindered the progress of certain reforms, but the country continues to prioritize its efforts to create a secure environment and strengthen its institutional framework against organized crime. Corruption remains a persistent issue, even with the presence of a dedicated anti-corruption unit. External perception is that corruption in Lithuania is limited; internally, however, there is remarkably low trust in the government. Lithuania has enhanced its international cooperation with law enforcement agencies substantially, both within the EU and with other countries. Agreements and partnerships have been established to foster better collaboration and information exchange, and to coordinate efforts against organized crime. These measures have yielded positive results, including a reduction in illegal border crossings and an increase in joint operations targeting drugs and arms trafficking, tobacco smuggling, human trafficking and other forms of transnational crime. Lithuanian authorities actively seek to target criminal activities facilitated by the dark web and by social media platforms. To combat organized crime, Lithuania has implemented strict sanctions and policies. The legal framework includes multiple measures that restrict individuals' rights to liberty, property and privacy; other laws provide tools to tackle organized crime, such as tax penalties for unexplained income, criminalization of illegal enrichment, regulations for ownerless property and the confiscation of property through criminal and civil procedures. Lithuania has also criminalized the involvement in, and organization of, criminal associations that consist of two or more individuals. Participation in armed criminal organizations can result in a lengthy prison sentence; holding a leadership position in such an organization may lead to imprisonment terms from a decade to life. Nevertheless, bribes and irregular payments are common tender for obtaining favourable judgments; a notable number of judges report facing inappropriate pressure to decide cases in a particular way. There are multiple law enforcement agencies dedicated to combating organized crime in Lithuania. Many of these organizations also actively address corruption within their ranks, since corruption remains a prominent issue within law enforcement institutions. To tackle the problem of internal corruption, surveillance mechanisms such as cameras in police cars have been implemented, and police officers are required to wear and activate body cameras when they leave their vehicles. These measures have contributed to a reduction in corruption cases. Lithuania has two primary intelligence agencies focused on national security — these agencies have also participated in investigations related to organized crime. As a Baltic state, Lithuania shares a border with Poland and faces challenges related to territorial integrity. Smuggling activities — including cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and fuel — have been increasing along the borders with Kaliningrad Russia and with Belarus. In response to the migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border, Lithuania initiated the construction of physical barriers such as fences and barbed wire to prevent unauthorized crossings. There are some concerns that the focus on addressing migration issues has allowed other forms of international illegal activities to go overlooked. Lithuania has implemented good measures to improve cybersecurity, particularly in the areas of legal regulation and the development of cybersecurity facilities. Lithuania has implemented comprehensive legislation and measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The country's financial crime investigation service plays a crucial role in fighting organized crime — this has helped Lithuania avoid being implicated in major money laundering scandals that have affected other Baltic nations. While Lithuania has taken steps to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing in areas such as crowdfunding and online gambling, there are ongoing challenges that need to be addressed. These include implementing a centralized register of beneficial owners, increasing regulatory supervision, and strengthening measures to prevent financial crimes across various sectors. One notable aspect of Lithuanian life is the relatively high use of cash compared to other Baltic and Nordic countries. This could potentially make the economy vulnerable to the infiltration of illicit funds. Despite the risks, Lithuania has not implemented a threshold for the use of cash and is considered to have a transparent banking system with adequate regulations. Irregular labour is also concerning: it is estimated that about a quarter of private sector GDP is generated by unreported workers. The size of the shadow economy has also increased, particularly due to factors associated with the COVID pandemic; and it is expected to continue growing. While Lithuania's control of corruption is relatively good compared to previous measures and close to the EU average , efforts need to be made to combat the shadow economy and address irregular labour, which will further strengthen its economic regulatory environment. Lithuania has made progress in providing support services to victims and witnesses, particularly in cases of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation — and especially in cases involving children. A noteworthy milestone was the adoption of a law establishing the country's first system of generic victim support services. Organizations to assist victims of human trafficking work closely with the government and receive funding through tender-based allocations. Funding for comprehensive support for child victims remains limited, however: only small amounts are allocated annually through tenders. Lithuania has implemented various preventive measures to address crime and ensure public safety. Internal findings indicate a consistent decrease in reported crimes over several consecutive years, although improvements are still needed in the crime prevention system to define responsibilities and functions. The government has invested in media campaigns to raise awareness about human trafficking, and it has collaborated with organizations to assist victims and carry out preventive work. Efforts to combat cybercrime have been prioritized: the police department conducts meetings to educate members of the public about how to recognize and protect themselves against cybercrimes. A whistle-blower protection law also makes provision for legal services and protection to be afforded to individuals who expose violations within their organizations or businesses. Lithuania generally respects freedom of association and civil society organizations CSOs. The country is considered free, with a high level of respect for political rights but with a comparatively lower level of civil liberties. Non-state actors, particularly NGOs, play a big role in providing support services to various vulnerable groups. In terms of press freedom, Lithuania has made improvements in its media environment in recent years. Political attacks against journalists are rare, but there are also challenges involved with accessing information. Funding for investigative journalism is limited, primarily due to the country's small population: the government prioritizes efforts to counter disinformation campaigns, and there have been instances of restricted public access to media following investigative articles about political corruption. The criminal markets score is represented by the pyramid base size and the criminal actors score is represented by the pyramid height, on a scale ranging from 1 to The resilience score is represented by the panel height, which can be identified by the side of the panel. A series of 13 discussion papers, one for each illicit market considered during the development of the Index. We're constantly working to improve the Index. By participating in this survey, you will be providing us with insights and suggestions that will help us make the Index an even better resource. This report was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State. Capital Vilnius. Income group High income. Population 2,, Geography type Coastal. GINI Index Criminal markets 3. An assessment of the value, prevalence and non-monetary impacts of a specific crime type. Human trafficking 4. Human smuggling 3. Extortion and protection racketeering 2. Arms trafficking 3. Trade in counterfeit goods 3. Illicit trade in excisable goods 5. Flora crimes 1. Fauna crimes 3. Non-renewable resource crimes 2. Heroin trade 4. Cocaine trade 5. Cannabis trade 4. Synthetic drug trade 4. Cyber-dependent crimes 5. Financial crimes 6. Criminal actors 4. An assessment of the impact and influence of a specific criminal actor type on society. Mafia-style groups 4. Criminal networks 4. State-embedded actors 4. Foreign actors 4. Private sector actors 3. Political leadership and governance 7. Government transparency and accountability 7. International cooperation 8. National policies and laws 7. A state's legal action and structures put in place to respond to organized crime. Judicial system and detention 8. Law enforcement 7. Territorial integrity 8. Anti-money laundering 6. Economic regulatory capacity 7. Victim and witness support 7. Prevention 6. Non-state actors 7. Analysis Download full profile english. People Despite it being a relatively small country with most relevant anti-trafficking measures in place, Lithuania still serves as an origin and transit country for human trafficking; and increasingly as a destination country. Trade Arms trafficking in Lithuania often involves the diversion of illegally assembled and modified firearms. Environment The criminal market for flora is almost non-existent in Lithuania. Drugs Heroin destined for Lithuania originates in Central Asia and is transported across Russia and Belarus before being redistributed within European markets, including the Kaliningrad region of Russia. Cyber Crimes Lithuania has a high rate of cybercrime and the market is quite developed. Financial Crimes Financial crimes in Lithuania have experienced a significant increase, resulting in substantial economic damage. Criminal Actors Mafia-style groups operating in Lithuania are involved in a range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, tobacco smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering. Leadership and governance Overall, Lithuania is recognized as a stable country with a commitment to fighting organized crime and corruption. Economic and financial environment Lithuania has implemented comprehensive legislation and measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Civil society and social protection Lithuania has made progress in providing support services to victims and witnesses, particularly in cases of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation — and especially in cases involving children. Read the analysis Listen the podcasts View all events. Next Skip. How to measure organized crime? Read more on globalinitiative. Give us feedback We're constantly working to improve the Index.

Penalties for possession of drugs too strict in Lithuania – UN

Buying Heroin Lithuania

Activities by an organized crime group involving the illegal entry, transit or residence of migrants for a financial or material benefit. The illicit trade and possession of species covered by CITES convention, and other species protected under national law. The poaching, illicit trade in and possession of species covered by CITES and other species protected by national law. Includes IUU fishing. The illicit extraction, smuggling, mingling, bunkering or mining of natural resources and the illicit trade of such commodities. The production, distribution and sale of heroin. Consumption of the drug is considered in determining the reach of the criminal market. The production, distribution and sale of cocaine and its derivatives. Consumption is considered in determining the reach of the market. The illicit cultivation, distribution and sale of cannabis oil, resin, herb or leaves. Consumption is used to determine the market's reach. The production, distribution and sale of synthetic drugs. Clearly defined organized crime groups that usually have a known name, defined leadership, territorial control and identifiable membership. Loose networks of criminal associates engaging in criminal activities who fail to meet the defining characteristics of mafia-style groups. Includes foreign nationals and diaspora groups. The State's role in responding to organized crime and its effectiveness. The degree to which states have put oversight mechanisms in place to ensure against state collusion in illicit activities. A country's supranational structures and processes of interaction, policy making and concrete implementation to respond to organized crime. The degree to which states are able to control their physical and cyber territory and infrastructure against organized criminal activities. Assistance provided to victims of various forms of organized crime, including initiatives such as witness protection programs. Refers to the existence of strategies, measures, resource allocation, programmes and processes that are aimed to inhibit organized crime. Lithuania is primarily a country of origin for human trafficking and, to a lesser extent, a transit zone and destination. Human trafficking in Lithuania predominantly takes the form of sexual and labour exploitation, forced acts of criminality and forced marriage. Victims typically originate from poor regions of the country, where traffickers target low-income individuals with minimal foreign language skills and entice them with high salaries that would improve their economic situation. The main destination markets for Lithuanian trafficking victims can be found in the UK, Spain and Germany, where recent trends indicate an uptick in the number of male victims sourced for the purposes of forced labour. There is also evidence of police officers or border guards being bribed to facilitate human trafficking activities. Lithuania is primarily a transit country for migrants headed to Western Europe. However, the overall scale of human smuggling is small and holds little influence over Lithuanian society. Migrants most frequently enter the country from Belarus or Latvia, and may traverse Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland or Latvia to reach their destination. These routes are reportedly organized and maintained by criminal networks with ties to Russia. There has also been some evidence of conflict caused by human smuggling, such as border guards being shot at and vehicles set on fire by human smuggling rings. However in recent years, there has been a decrease in border violations, in part due to technological advancement of border monitoring systems. Prior to , the registration of alarm weapons was not mandatory in Lithuania. During this time, alarm pistols gained popularity among criminal actors who sought to convert them to live-firing weapons, which saturated European markets with Lithuanian-manufactured converted firearms. While stringent regulation is now in place, the pre-legislation technical knowledge and experience of conversion are still available, and large quantities of alarm pistols continue to serve as a source of illicit firearms. Old firearms, such as those from the two world wars, are also quite common in Lithuania and are cheaper to buy on the illicit market. According to Lithuanian law enforcement officials, firearms are known to be sold via the internet and delivered courier services, but no cases of online firearms trafficking via the dark web have thus far been identified in the country. Additionally, most cases of illicit firearms trafficking involved perpetrators who belonged to organized crime groups. While the criminal market for flora is is extremely small in Lithuania, the illegal logging of timber remains a concern. Generally, more illegal logging cases are recorded in private forests than in state-owned woodlands. Lithuania is a source and transit country in the illegal wildlife trade. Albeit limited in size and scope, there have been recorded cases of wildlife crimes, which encompass illegal hunting and fishing, as well as the use of Lithuania as a transit country for the smuggling of white rhino horns and brown bears. The poaching of wolves raises significant concerns over the extent of wildlife crimes in Lithuania. Despite numerous media publications on the apprehension of poachers, very few criminal cases related to illegal hunting or fishing are initiated in Lithuania annually. Nevertheless, the involvement of organized crime in this criminal market is likely limited to using the country as a transit point. With regards to non-renewable resource crimes, Lithuania serves as a destination and transit country for the illicit trade of amber, which is tied to foreign criminal groups. The precious stone is usually smuggled by individuals or small groups that shuttle the stone in and out of the country. Besides amber, Lithuania has reported numerous cases involving illegal fuel. Criminal groups reportedly mix diesel fuel with other substances to create another oil that is then sold abroad, free from excise duties. The illicit fuel is commonly purchased by Latvians and smuggled by Russian and Belarusian crime groups. Evidence suggests that the market for illegal fuel will continue to expand but is of now of not significant in scope and scale. Lithuania is a transit country for cannabis, which remains the most frequently consumed drug in the country. While less common, evidence suggests that small-scale, local cultivation of cannabis does occur in the country. Cannabis products are usually smuggled into Lithuania from the Netherlands, Spain or Belgium through various maritime and land routes that use the Klaipeda seaport as their main point of entry, or they are trafficked through Poland. Lithuania is also a transit country for cocaine. Although cocaine is the second most seized drug in the country, it remains relatively unpopular among Lithuanians due to its high cost. Most of the cocaine seized in Lithuania enters through Klaipeda, having transited the UK, the Netherlands or Germany, and is destined for Belarus, Russia or Scandinavian countries. There have been reports of the collaboration between Lithuanian and Nigerian drug traffickers for the purposes of smuggling cocaine into Switzerland and Germany. With regards to heroin, supply generally originates from Central Asia and travels across Russia and Belarus to be redistributed within European markets and the Kaliningrad region of Russia. The smuggling of heroin from Central Asia to Lithuania is carried out by various organized criminal groups of an international nature. While heroin was among the most popular drug in Lithuania until several years ago, it has been gradually replaced in popularity by synthetic opioids such as Carfentanil. As for synthetic drugs, close links have been established between Lithuania, the synthetic drug trade and the organized criminal groups that orchestrate distribution, sale and transport. In north-eastern Europe, the production of synthetic drugs is dominated by Lithuanian and Polish organized crime groups that smuggle the illicit drugs into Russia, Belarus and Scandinavia, where land trafficking routes traverse Poland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, and Lithuania, Estonia and Sweden by sea. These Lithuanian criminal groups have also been documented trafficking drugs to the UK. Meanwhile, new psychoactive substances are often imported from China and the Netherlands, mainly by postal or courier services. There are mafia groups operating in Lithuania. The leadership hierarchy of these groups is often unclear, and most of them are transnational in nature. Mafia-style groups are predominately engaged in drug trafficking, tobacco smuggling, luxury-car theft, human trafficking and money laundering. Over the last five years, numerous groups were targeted by law enforcement activities, and many were arrested and sentenced, resulting in the complete eradication of some groups. Meanwhile, criminal networks within Lithuania have become more sophisticated during the last decade. While they still focus on traditional operations involving tobacco and drug smuggling, improvements in technology, law-enforcement capacities and international cooperation have pushed these organized criminal groups to adapt their operations. Smaller networks are concentrated in the cities, while larger ones often operate transnationally. Organized crime networks often cooperate with South American and Central Asian criminal groups, particularly in drug trafficking. The migration of the Lithuanian population since the country joined the Schengen Area has also played an important role in the expansion of criminal activities, as Lithuanian criminal networks flourish in the European countries with the biggest populations of Lithuanian migrants. Furthermore, some foreign criminal groups use Lithuania as a transit point, due to its geographical placement and links across the wider European region. There are also reports of Russian and Belarusian actors working with Lithuanians to facilitate smuggling. With regards to state-embedded actors, there appears to be little to no collusion between the state and criminal markets. There is, however, recent evidence of corruption and border officers working with organized criminal groups in smuggling operations. An institutional framework exists in Lithuania to address the organized crime situation in the country. It is deemed sufficiently effective, and there are efforts to improve it further. Moreover, since the economic crisis of , one of the main goals of each government has been to eliminate its shadow economy. Lithuania has also improved the investigative work of the tax office, made declarations of income and assets mandatory for the state service, and improved legislation focused on illegal enrichment. Additionally, all legal enforcement institutions have established anti-corruption departments during the last decade. Furthermore, anti-corruption checks of political candidates are obligatory for parliamentary and municipal elections. Despite this, corruption exists in the country, including bribery and abuse of power involving politicians, businesses and the judiciary, which has contributed to a lower trust in government. Still, corruption levels are low in a global and even European comparison. On the international level, Lithuania has improved cooperation with law enforcement agencies in the EU and other countries over the last decade. Agreements have been signed that provide for better cooperation, exchange of information and coordinated actions against organized crime. This has resulted in a decline in cases of irregular border crossings and increasing numbers of international operations against drug and arms trafficking, tobacco smuggling, human trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crime. It also allows joint actions against the use of the darknet and social media to facilitate criminality. Law enforcement also cooperates closely with counterparts in the Baltic countries, Russia and, to a lesser degree, Belarus. On a domestic level, Lithuania has strict sanctions and policies related to organized crime. Lithuania has also criminalized participating in, and organizing, a criminal association which consists of two or more people. There has been evidence of corruption in the judiciary in Lithuania. In , Lithuanian authorities detained judges and lawyers in a large-scale anti-corruption investigation. The suspects were accused of bribery, trading in influence and abuse of power. There are also reports of drug trafficking in prisons. There are several law enforcement agencies combating organized crime in Lithuania, many of which are also attempting to fight corruption from within. Most Lithuanians believe corruption is widespread among police and customs agents. Despite this fact, trust in the Lithuanian police increased between and It has been noted that law enforcement agencies are under resourced, which somewhat limits their scope of work, but are still effective relative to the organized crime threat they face. The State Border Guard Service has also reported a rise in smuggling mainly of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and petrol along the Kaliningrad—Lithuania and Belarus—Lithuania borders. Lithuania has the highest cash usage among the Baltic and Nordic states. At the same time, it has not adopted a threshold on cash usage, which can present a possible vulnerability for the injection of illicit funds into the economy. Furthermore, Lithuania ranks in the top third in the EU in terms of the size of its shadow economy. Nevertheless, the country has one of the freest economies in the world, which would suggest criminal organizations do not exert significant influence over sectors in the legal economy. Lithuania is also ranked as being highly resilient to money laundering and terrorist financing. The country has a financial crime investigation service which works against organized crime, and which has helped it avoid the money laundering scandals that rocked other Baltic nations. Lithuania also has in-depth legislation on money laundering and terrorist financing. Victim and witness support services within Lithuania are limited. However, this is changing and since there has been a rise in witness and victim protection services available through non-governmental organizations and international organizations, as well as increased government support for these services. Similarly, in terms of prevention, there is evidence of regional or national prevention schemes tackling organized crime. With regards to the press, investigative journalism lacks funding. Furthermore, media ownership is usually multinational, with journalists working for several major media groups simultaneously. The media enjoy relative freedom in Lithuania, but the rise in prominence of new anti-establishment political parties may pose a threat to freedom of the press in the coming years. The criminal markets score is represented by the pyramid base size and the criminal actors score is represented by the pyramid height, on a scale ranging from 1 to The resilience score is represented by the panel height, which can be identified by the side of the panel. A series of 13 discussion papers, one for each illicit market considered during the development of the Index. We're constantly working to improve the Index. By participating in this survey, you will be providing us with insights and suggestions that will help us make the Index an even better resource. This report was funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State. Capital Vilnius. Income group High income. Population 2,, Geography type Coastal. Criminal markets 3. An assessment of the value, prevalence and non-monetary impacts of a specific crime type. Human trafficking 3. Human smuggling 2. Arms trafficking 2. Flora crimes 1. Fauna crimes 2. Non-renewable resource crimes 2. Heroin trade 4. Cocaine trade 4. Cannabis trade 4. Synthetic drug trade 4. Criminal actors 3. An assessment of the impact and influence of a specific criminal actor type on society. Mafia-style groups 3. Criminal networks 4. State-embedded actors 4. Foreign actors 3. Political leadership and governance 7. Government transparency and accountability 7. International cooperation 7. National policies and laws 7. A state's legal action and structures put in place to respond to organized crime. Judicial system and detention 7. Law enforcement 7. Territorial integrity 8. Anti-money laundering 6. Economic regulatory capacity 7. Victim and witness support 7. Prevention 6. Non-state actors 7. Analysis Download full profile english. People Lithuania is primarily a country of origin for human trafficking and, to a lesser extent, a transit zone and destination. Trade Prior to , the registration of alarm weapons was not mandatory in Lithuania. Environment While the criminal market for flora is is extremely small in Lithuania, the illegal logging of timber remains a concern. Drugs Lithuania is a transit country for cannabis, which remains the most frequently consumed drug in the country. Criminal Actors There are mafia groups operating in Lithuania. Leadership and governance An institutional framework exists in Lithuania to address the organized crime situation in the country. Criminal justice and security There has been evidence of corruption in the judiciary in Lithuania. Economic and financial environment Lithuania has the highest cash usage among the Baltic and Nordic states. Civil society and social protection Victim and witness support services within Lithuania are limited. Read the analysis Listen the podcasts View all events. Next Skip. How to measure organized crime? Read more on globalinitiative. Give us feedback We're constantly working to improve the Index.

Buying Heroin Lithuania