Around 1,350 drug-related cases initiated in Moldova in 2025; interior minister announces new mechanisms to combat trafficking in banned substances

Around 1,350 criminal cases related to drug trafficking were initiated in 2025, compared to 994 cases initiated in 2023. An upward trend continues this year as well. In the area of smuggling, last year the control authorities documented 50 cases of illicit transportation of drugs, which represents an increase of 22 per cent compared to 2024. Interior Minister Daniella Misail‑Nichitin today unveiled to this effect in parliament. She reported on the policies and measures taken by the ministry in the field of preventing and combating drug use and trafficking.

The official underlined that, in 2025, for involvement in the committing of drug-related offences, 775 adults and 36 minors were documented. As many as 736 people of the total number were sent to court.

“Following the analysis carried out, it was found that most offences are committed by people aged between 18, 24 and over 30 years. In the majority of cases, men are involved. In the last three years, there has been an increase in the involvement of foreign citizens in drug-related cases, a fact caused by regional mobility in the context of the war in Ukraine. The data also shows that plant-based drugs continue to represent a significant component of the illegal market. Nevertheless, in recent years, we have seen an increase in the share of synthetic drugs. For example, in the case of PVP, known as ‘bath salts’, the seized quantities increased from approximately 37 kilograms in 2022 to over 59 kilograms in 2025. Mephedrone has also recorded an increase from 5 kg in 2022 to over 26 kg in 2025. The rise and diversification of new psychoactive substances, starting with 2024–2025, reflect the flexibility of traffickers to shift towards the sale of substances with modified chemical structures, meant to temporarily evade legal control and respond to black‑market demand. However, in Moldova, the most trafficked drugs are cannabis, PVP, mephedrone and amphetamine,” said Daniella Misail‑Nichitin.

The minister stressed that narcotic substances most often reached Moldova through smuggling, passenger routes, parcels, couriers or postal boxes. Most cases are recorded at the border crossing points Palanca, Tudora, Sculeni, Leuseni and Costesti. After entering the country, the drugs are sold via online platforms.

“Once on the territory of Moldova, the substances are taken over by the network, usually through couriers or so‑called ‘stash couriers’. At this stage, preparations for distribution are carried out. The drugs are packaged and divided into smaller quantities, from very small doses to larger amounts. After portioning, delivery follows using the method of placing them in hidden locations, which allows transfer without direct contact between people. Couriers place the packages at multiple points across the country, so that the flow is continuous and hard to track. Payments for these services are made in cryptocurrencies, which are liquidated through online currency exchanges, created including on the Telegram application. In this way, it is very difficult to identify the owners of the online shops,” Daniella Misail‑Nichitin said.

The official also referred to actions to prevent the distribution and use of drugs. In this regard, the General Police Inspectorate (IGP) carried out around 3,000 activities last year, during which more than 86,000 citizens were informed. In addition, 17 campaigns were organized to combat drug use.

“These actions show that the institutional response is not based only on punitive measures, but is also an institutional responsibility assumed to reduce the risks associated with the use of illegal substances. Thus, in the last three months alone, around 1,400 activities to prevent the use of illegal substances were carried out at more than 750 educational institutions. These activities were organized by joint teams made up of teachers, psychologists and police officers. Law‑enforcement officers have the appropriate training to deliver messages adapted to age categories, from 6th to 12th grade. Such activities will continue to be carried out as part of an agreement between the Interior Ministry and the Education and Research Ministry (MEC),” said Daniella Misail‑Nichitin.

Another priority is the implementation of an integrated national digital mechanism for registering children who use drugs, while observing the protection of personal data.

“We aim to develop a mechanism for reporting cases of drug use and illicit circulation in educational institutions. Presently, the IGP is working on developing a platform that will allow all cases of use, distribution or sale of substances to be reported anonymously. We are in the process of finalizing a draft law that provides for discouraging drug trafficking and illicit drug use, with a focus on increased protection of minors and the introduction of harsher measures to hold accountable those who involve children in the delivery of drugs. Thus, our call to all citizens is that when they are aware of possible cases of drug use or distribution, they must report them to the police,” specified the official.

At national level, the National Anti‑Drug Commission is the platform used to coordinate anti‑drug policies. The authorities in the field are currently working on drafting the new National Strategy on Drugs and Addiction for the period 2026–2032.

“Another very important action concerns the operationalization of the national early‑warning system for monitoring, preventing, detecting and incriminating new psychoactive substances, as well as establishing the inter‑institutional mechanism for the operation of this system. We are also working on procedures regarding the traceability of seized and confiscated drugs, by aligning with European Union standards and practices. Another priority concerns the development of the information system on the traceability of unaccompanied parcels and the amendment of the legal framework in this regard, to ensure that the necessary legal provisions exist, so that such parcels can be analyzed and, where appropriate, used as objects in the investigation and documentation of drug trafficking cases. I would like to emphasize that this provision does not affect bona fide citizens who send parcels from outside Moldova,” the minister said.

Daniella Misail‑Nichitin also referred to a new method of identifying psychotropic substances or drugs in communities.

“This is about the use of wastewater analysis. This tool allows us to identify the use of certain substances at community or institutional level. This method enables rapid and efficient investigation. In this way, resources are focused on locations where it is known with certainty that illegal substances are being used,” noted Daniella Misail‑Nichitin.

Another priority of the MAI is to continue strengthening operational partnerships with all European agencies in the field of preventing and combating drugs.

“We will contribute to joint operations to document and dismantle drug trafficking networks. Thus, we are in discussions and negotiations with development partners, in order to strengthen the technical capacity of the subdivisions involved in investigating and documenting these offences, in the context of the internationalization of drug trafficking schemes and routes,” added the minister.

According to official data, at global level, the number of users of narcotic substances increased from 247 million in 2013 to 316 million in 2023. This figure shows a 28 per cent  increase over 10 years.