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Moldovan customs and corruption investigations

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2026-09-28 10:22 UTC → 2026-09-29 13:54 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Moldovan authorities are addressing multiple investigations involving customs officials and illegal activities. In an arms trafficking case stemming from a November 2025 discovery at the Leușeni-Albița border, Radu Vrabie, Director of the Customs Service, denied that internal investigations found evidence of customs official involvement. The case concerns a shipment of weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-tank launchers, clandestinely transported from Ukraine through Moldova to Israel. Five individuals have been sent to trial. Regarding corruption, a customs official from the Hârbovăț post and an employee of the Public Services Agency (ASP) were placed in 30-day preventive arrest. The Chișinău Court approved the request from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office following allegations that the suspects operated a scheme to illegally issue neutral license plates for vehicles failing to meet legal requirements. Investigators claim officials demanded bribes between 1,000 and 5,000 euros per vehicle. The scheme, which reportedly involved over 100 plates, caused a state budget loss exceeding 23 million lei. One suspect, Serghei Obada, head of the vehicle registration section in Tiraspol, has declared innocence through his lawyer. Additionally, authorities uncovered a smuggling scheme involving 127 maritime containers imported from Ukraine and the European Union. Since January 2025, suspects allegedly misrepresented new and used containers as being for temporary use to avoid import duties, estimated at 20% of a value exceeding 4 million lei. Instead of being returned, the containers were sold or rented as storage. Following ten searches in Chișinău and other localities, authorities seized the containers along with mobile phones and documents. Four ~~individuals~~ individuals, including three transporters and one representative of the purchasing company, are currently under investigation.

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