Romanian driver licences uncovered in Moldovan waste dump

Romanian authorities and Moldovan officials are investigating how 116 valid Romanian driver licences ended up in an illegal waste dump in the village of Porumbeni, Criuleni district, Moldova. The licences, removed from the archives after their owners changed personal data or obtained new categories, were supposed to be destroyed under a new contract for document disposal. The discovery was made by an environmental NGO alongside large amounts of plastic and medical waste.

The Directorate General for Driver Licences and Registrations (DGPCI) has opened a probe to determine whether destruction procedures were breached and who bears responsibility. A waste‑collection company that delivered around 800 kg of material to a recycling firm in Moldova says it was unaware that driver licences were among the items. Romanian and Moldovan investigators are coordinating checks in Vaslui County and Porumbeni, and have confirmed the documents were authentic and contained real personal data.

The investigation aims to clarify the chain of custody for the licences and to ensure compliance with legal disposal processes.