A high-performance mobile scanner for trucks will be bought for the Tudora-Starokazacie customs post located on the border with Ukraine to streamline freight traffic and reduce the risk of smuggling. USAID, through its Moldova Institutional and Structural Reforms Activity, provides assistance to the Moldovan Customs Service in purchasing the equipment that is requested by freight carriers, IPN reports.

Currently, the Tudora customs post does not have a scanner for nonintrusive inspection of trucks with goods entering and leaving the Republic of Moldova, even though the flow of trucks through Tudora is considerable. Thus, the pressure on the customs authority and on the business environment has increased, especially after the outbreak of Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to a press release.

According to data provided by the Customs Service, over 26,500 trucks entered Moldova through the Tudora customs post between January and November 2023 and over 16,000 trucks left the country through this post, mostly transporting agricultural products, food, building materials, and also various material aid for Ukraine.

The installation of the high-performance scanner, which will be purchased with USAID support for the Tudora-Starokazacie customs post, together with noninvasive inspection equipment, will exclude delays and eliminate the risks of suspension of commercial operations, will contribute to optimizing carriers’ costs and to maintaining smooth commercial operations in the region. The new high-performance scanner is to be bought and installed by the end of September.

Currently, the Customs Service has older mobile scanners that are used at the Costești-Stânca, Leușeni-Albița, Giurgiulești-Galați Costesti-Stanca, Leuseni-Albita, Giurgiulesti-Galati, and Palanca customs posts.