Head of grouping that tried to smuggle 1 kg of gold into Moldova arrested

IPN.md

3 October 2022
14:36

The leader of the organized criminal group that in March attempted to illegally take over 1 kilogram of gold from the United States into Moldova is under arrest. This is a man aged 45 from Ungheni, IPN reports.

The Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases said that the man was put on the wanted list in 2012. He hasn’t had IDs since 1998 and used other data about his identity and committed the offenses through the agency of other persons.

Six criminal cases were started against the man and he was convicted for swindle and appropriation and sentenced to 16 years behind bars in total.

Following his arrest with the assistance of employees of the Police Brigade “Fulger”, the prosecutors are to charge the man and to ask for remand detention over attempted smuggling for him.

In March 2022, four persons, among who was an employee of the Customs Service, were arrested for trying to smuggle over 1 kilogram of gold from the United States. According to prosecutors, the gold bars and granules were sent through postal parcels. The 99.99% pure gold weighed 1,024 grams. The merchandise was ordered through the internet from the U.S.

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by Alexandru Carasec 22.07.2026

Official documents issued in the Republic of Moldova and Germany may now be used in each other’s countries with only an apostille, without the need for the legalization procedure. The measure enters into force following the Federal Republic of Germany’s withdrawal of the reservation it made in 2007 when the Republic of Moldova acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, IPN reports.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the decision was made following steps taken by Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his May 18–19 meeting with his German counterpart, Johann David Wadephul.

The ministry emphasizes that the new system will eliminate the need to visit multiple institutions or diplomatic missions to have documents legalized, which will reduce both the time required and the costs incurred by citizens. The simplified procedure will apply to official documents such as birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates, criminal records, academic diplomas, and diploma supplements.

The Hague Convention on the Apostille entered into force for the Republic of Moldova on March 16, 2007. With its implementation in relations with Germany, the Republic of Moldova will benefit from the same simplified procedure for the recognition of official documents as it does with all 130 states and entities that are parties to the convention.

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Head of grouping that tried to smuggle 1 kg of gold into Moldova arrested

IPN.md

3 October 2022
14:36

Six criminal cases were started against the man and he was convicted for swindle and appropriation and sentenced to 16 years behind bars in total.

Following his arrest with the assistance of employees of the Police Brigade “Fulger”, the prosecutors are to charge the man and to ask for remand detention over attempted smuggling for him.

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Maritime schools could be opened in Moldova following the full transposition of relevant European legislation. The statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, who noted that there is growing interest in such programs, including from Ukrainian citizens affected by the war, according to IPN.

Vladimir Bolea stated that the new regulations will allow seaman’s books to be issued based on studies completed in the Republic of Moldova at authorized institutions.

The minister told the press that, at present, no ships are sailing under the flag of the Republic of Moldova, but the authorities are working to transpose European legislation and develop the legal framework necessary for the development of this sector.

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