Head of enterprise third person detained in smuggling arms case in Moldova

The head of the company that ordered the illicit transportation of weapons across the border of Moldova has been detained. Officials of the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Causes (PCCOCS) made statements to this effect. This is the third person detained by law-enforcers in the case of illegal transportation of arms and ammunition.

According to PCCOCS, so far, three individuals have been detained: the head of the company that ordered the transportation of goods; the head of the transport company and the broker.

The truck driver transporting the weapons, a citizen of Moldova, was detained by Romanian authorities, who also seized the smuggled goods.

On November 20, Romanian border authorities stopped a truck loaded with weapons at the Leuseni–Albita crossing point, which was coming from Moldova. The vehicle, registered in Moldova, was heading to Israel.

Following the searches conducted on the same evening, law-enforcers established that the smuggled goods had been loaded onto the truck in the Chisinau.

The Customs Service of Moldova is conducting an internal investigation, in order to identify any potential corruption elements or security breaches in the case of the truck with weapons detected at the Leuseni–Albita crossing point. Investigation actions are carried out in collaboration with Romanian institutions and criminal authorities of Moldova, said Radu Vrabie, Director of the Customs Service.