The organizer of the arms smuggling scheme from customs, arrested in Chisinau. What does it say about the charges?

The organizer of the arms smuggling scheme from the Leușeni-Albita customs was arrested for 30 days, the decision being taken on Friday by the court in Chisinau, at the request of the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS).

The individual, who would be the organizer of the scheme, arrested for 30 days. PHOTO: Tv8.md

Escorted to court, the 52-year-old individual, a company administrator, covered his face with a hood to avoid being filmed and refused to answer journalists' questions. His lawyer emphasized that he does not admit his guilt.

“My client pleads not guilty and we hope that in the near future his innocence will be confirmed.” said lawyer Sergiu Rusu.

He was arrested by the Chisinau Court based in the Ciocana sector at the request of PCCOCS prosecutors.

“There are risks because several people, several accomplices, were involved in committing the crime. Respectively, that risk persists, he can interact with these accomplices with the aim of distorting the evidence”, stated Dumitru Barbaroșie, the prosecutor investigating the case.

Five people arrested

And the exporter, the customs broker and the transporter, who would have been responsible for the export documents and the organization of the transport, are in custody in the Republic of Moldova.

As for the driver of the truck, a citizen of the Republic of Moldova, he was handcuffed by the Romanian authorities, who also picked up the contraband.

According to the prosecutors from Chisinau, the weapons were smuggled into the territory of the Republic of Moldova with the help of a cart, which periodically travels with the cargo truck from Ukraine.

“According to the data of the investigation, these munitions were smuggled into the territory of the Republic of Moldova with the help of a cart, which traveled with the periodic cargo truck from Ukraine. The munitions were taken through several runs, which involved transporting two units of munitions each, taken from an unidentified warehouse in Ukraine, from unknown persons. They were brought in a camouflaged manner to the Republic of Moldova, from where they were shortly taken over by several accomplices. Export customs documents were perfected for “metal articles” destined for Israel”, informed the officials of the General Prosecutor's Office (PG) from the Republic of Moldova.

According to Moldovan prosecutors, the truck contained 18 munitions components, another eight complete munitions, a launcher and a “Geran 2” type drone, dismantled after the crash, with visible splinters in the detachment areas and with the engine separated from the body.

PG representatives also point out that this case is being investigated together with the Romanian authorities, as follows “to have carried out criminal investigation actions and exchange of information and evidence”.

,, We specify that, from the evidence and preliminary information obtained on the case, it was not identified that the weapons/ammunition came from military or strategic warehouses, such as the Cobasna warehouse or those of the National Army. All state institutions cooperate so that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are safe. There is an international cooperation of several institutions, so that such cases are investigated with maximum rigor and to ensure that these weapons do not end up in the international arms trade”, authorities added.

Moreover, they take into account, including, the version that through this case an attempt was made to discredit the Republic of Moldova.

Spotted at the border

The investigations were triggered after, on 20.11.2025, upon entering Romania through the Leușeni-Albita customs, the truck belonging to a transport company from the Republic of Moldova and which was going to arrive in Israel was detected.

Shortly after, the head of the Customs Service (SV) from the neighboring country, Radu Vrabie, reacted in the case of the vehicle with weapons, stressing that it was discovered on the night of Wednesday to Thursday by the Romanian customs officers, after they were alerted by their Moldovan colleagues. He also emphasized that the incident shows the importance of equipping the structure with modern equipment.