Two people were detained on suspicion of illegal mercury activities. 4.5 kg of mercury were found at one of the suspects, IPN reports.
According to the General Police Inspectorate, the toxic substance was found in the trunk of the car of one of the suspects, after the driver stopped at a filling station on the Chisinau-Balti route.
The driver, a 20-year-old man, told the police that the mercury bottle was sent to him by a 26-year-old man and that he was going to sell it for €45,000.
Employees of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations was called out to pick up the bottle with the toxic substance and sent it for examination.
The suspects risk between five and seven years in prison.
Mercury is extremely dangerous to health and the environment due to its high toxicity, especially in liquid and gaseous forms. Exposure to mercury can cause severe effects on the nervous system, kidneys, lungs, and the immune system.
