Border police officers who did not comply with instructions to facilitate certain smuggling activities were prosecuted. This was up to the Border Police, the Customs Service or the Information and Security Service leadership. The statement was made by the head of the Border Police, Rosian Vasiloi, during the TV8 show "Cutia Neagră.
Rosian Vasiloi said that he reinstated former employees in their jobs, because he was aware why they had been dismissed. “Some of them left the country and were part of the diaspora. They came back. I asked them to come back to reform the Border Police in order for the agency to do its job abiding the law”, said Rosian Vasiloi.
According to him, a former deputy head of the Regional Directorate was transferred to the inspector post at a crossing point in the north of the country because he did not execute his higher-ups’ orders to create green corridors for smuggling at the border. "Contraband shipments included spirits, cigarettes, you name it. He didn't comply. Seven workplace investigations were initiated against him. The man was dragged through the courts. But I brought him back to his initial post from which he had been illegally dismissed, started a workplace inquiry regarding the illegalities committed by his boss, then relieved the boss of his duties and transferred the dossiers to the Prosecutor's Office”, said the Border Police head.
Even if cigarette smuggling currently occurs, Rosian Vasiloi claims things have improved. "When we detect such occurrences, we start investigations, which did not happen in previous years. Border district heads started to report to management when people are approaching them with requests to facilitate the smuggling of cigarettes, which was previously unheard of", said the Border Police head.
In regard to large-scale smuggling schemes that involved cigarettes, alcohol and other goods, Rosian Vasiloi claimed that certain well-off people who were connected to politics were controlling said schemes and that "nothing at the border happened by chance". "The schemes were divided by area on certain sectors of the state border. Someone coordinated the smuggling activity in the northern part of the border. Spirits, cigarettes and amber were directed to the north. Spirits, cigarettes and alcohol were directed to the southern part of the border. The airport had its own area of specialization - gold, amber and anabolics. Nothing happened by chance. Everything was coordinated from a hub. Certain companies were selling spirits to particular circles of people. Cigarettes were purchased only from specific companies", said Rosian Vasiloi.
According to the Border Police head, nowadays, smuggling attempts occur, however, the magnitude does not compare with previous smuggling schemes.
