MP of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) Grigore Cobzac said schemes to smuggle anabolic steroids through the state-run Moldova’s Post Office have been employed for several years and these are protected by high-ranking officials. On the other hand, Democratic MP Anatolie Zagorodnyi denies the accusations about the schemes and says that it is about particular deviations. Differing statements on the issue were made in the talk show “In Depth” on PRO TV Chisinau channel, IPN reports.
Grigore Cobzac, who led the Parliament’s commission of inquiry into the smuggling in steroids, said that both MPs and ministers of the current government tried to hamper the investigation and to intimidate witnesses. Some of the witnesses accepted to make statements on condition of anonymity. “Premier Filip is trying to shift the blame onto the PLDM because he controlled the customs. I cover no one. I want all those involved in the smuggling of anabolic steroids, both in the past and in the present, to be held accountable in accordance with the law. We remitted the case to the Prosecutor’s Office, but no move has yet followed,” said the Lib-Dem. According to him, the commission’s alternative report was signed by half of its members.
Sergiu Cebotari, former deputy head at Moldova’s Post Office, said he notified the law enforcement bodies of the schemes to smuggle steroids, but ultimately started to be persecuted by these and was even arrested when he was heading for Parliament to provide evidence. “The smuggling in anabolic steroids is protected by the director of Moldova’s Post Office, who, for his part, is protected by the PDM. I possess evidence, but I cannot submit it now to the law enforcement bodies as these will destroy it,” stated Cebotari.
Journalist Mariana Rata, who investigated the case of seizure of steroids at the Chisinau Airport, said about US$ 2 million is estimated to be circulating through the given smuggling scheme a year.
MP Anatolie Zagorodnyi, who formed part of the commission led by Grigore Cobzac, said half of the commission members signed the main report that points to irregularities or deviations from the current regulations, but it is not about smuggling schemes. The made accusations are insinuations aimed at discrediting Pavel Filip in favor of the leader of the opposition party PAS Maia Sandu.
