Belarusian law official arrested in Lithuania for carrying live ammunition

A top Belarusian law enforcement official has been detained in Lithuania after being found in possession of illegal ammunition rounds.

It's believed the man detained is Dzmitry Kanaplianik, the head of the Minsk directorate of the investigative committee Belarusian media reports.

“The customs service of Medininkai stopped a Belarus-registered Honda CR-V car on the road to Belarus. Several tens of 9 mm Luger cartridges were found in the car,” Lithuania's Prosecutor Office said.

A preliminary investigation has been launched against the the couple charged with the illegal carrying of live ammunition. In order to reduce risks of their fleeing from prosecution, the Lithuanian side has seized their identity cards. Kanaplianik is believed to have entered Lithuania as a tourist, media reports say.

The Belarusian Embassy to Lithuania was informed about the detention. Its representatives were allowed to meet with detained citizen on Monday.

In the course of investigation the Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office has discovered that the owner of the car is a top officer at one of the Belarusian law enforcement agencies.