PHOTO How Securitatea steals from Romanians' parcels and what is on the list of items confiscated from packages received from abroad

The National Council for the Study of Security Archives (CNSAS) published on Wednesday several documents from the archive of the former Security, which show how Romanians were opened and emptied the parcels they received from abroad from relatives who had managed to settle in capitalist countries. The confiscated goods, which ended up being sold on consignment, ranged from toys and clothes to hair clips or chewing gum.

In order to escape the communist regime, many Romanians chose to settle in capitalist countries – either by receiving the approval of the authorities for emigration, or, most of them, by illegal methods, reminds CNSAS. Many of those who left sent parcels with different products to their relatives and friends.

“Everyone knew that, although the secrecy of correspondence and postal items was guaranteed even in the communist constitution, the Securitate was “extracting” many of the letters. They just read some of them and put them back in the circuit. Many others were no longer answered. Also, the security guards had no qualms about seizing the packages sent from abroad – most of them containing trivial things, such as clothes (even some used), cosmetics, food products, medicines, pens, toys, electronic products, etc., says CNSAS.

Practically, the political police were making a fool of themselves, collecting money from the sale of low-value items confiscated from Romanian parcels. They capitalized on consignment, which was the only form of “free”, semi-private trade in the Socialist Republic of Romania. It was the store where Romanians left new or old objects for sale. If the object was sold, the state withheld a legal commission of 13%, and the rest of the money went to the person who had put it up for sale.

What does the Securitate confiscate from Romanians' packages?

Cosmetics, clothing, food, toys.

What the “inventory” lists looked like, according to the documents published by CNSAS:

• 11 (eleven) plastic mini-soldiers (Chinese toys), h 5 cm., valued at 10 lei/piece. total 110 lei.
• 2 (two) plastic mini-soldiers (set of two pieces) valued at 20 lei/pc. total 40 lei.
• 5 (five) plastic figurines representing pirates made in China, valued at 25 lei/piece. total 125 lei.
• 2 (two) plastic busts, made in China, hologram, valued at 25 lei/pc. total 50 lei.
• 2 (two) plastic mini-games TIC TAC TOE, TIDDLY WINKS, composed of 10 pieces each, valued at 10 lei/pc. total 20 lei.
• 1 (one) battery-operated plastic car with the inscription FORCE 440, Hong Kong production, valued at 150 lei.
• 1 (one) plastic mini-robot, battery powered, made in China, valued at 150 lei.
• 2 (two) BATTLESHIP and PARKER BROTHERS plastic games, Hong Kong production, valued at 100 lei/pc. total 200 lei.
• 1 (one) anatomy game, fragmented plastic brontosaurus, valued at 100 lei.
• 1 (one) mini cat toy made of synthetic material, made in Korea, valued at 500 lei.
• 2 (two) carioca kits of 10 pcs. each valued at 30 lei, total kit 60 lei.
• 10 (ten) black HB pencils valued at 2 lei/pc. total 20 lei.
• 12 (twelve) mini colored pencils h 6 cm. SAINSBURY valued at 15 lei in total.
• 16 (sixteen) simple plastic pens valued at 5 lei/pc. total 80 lei.
• 1 (one) bath towel
• 2 (two) ladies' blouses
• 2 (two) pairs of ladies' panties 3 (three) ladies' plastic slippers
• 1 (one) ladies' plastic bag
• 3 (three) pairs of braces 4 (four) pens
• 2 (two) lipsticks 2 (two) pairs of sunglasses
• 3 (three) pieces of bath soap
• 4 (four) different pens
• 1 (one) makeup tube
• 2 (two) cans
• 2 (two) bags of candy
• 2 (two) bags of biscuits
• 4 (four) plastic clips
• 1 (one) box of chocolate cream
• 5 (five) packets of soup
• 1 (one) candy box
• 1 (one) tea
• 1 (one) chewing gum
• 1 (one) hair brush.
• 1 (one) tube of toothpaste
• 1 (one) bottle of lotion for pore
• 1 (one) pack of vacuum coffee.
• 3 (three) different cans
• 9 (nine) packs of different soups
• 1 (one) powdered milk.
• 4 (four) pudding boxes
• 1 (one) tea packet
• 2 (two) bottles of corn margarine
• 1 (one) set of chewing gums
• 2 (two) packages with chocolate
• 3 (three) sachets of brewer's yeast.
• 3 (three) bags of coffee beans
• 1 (one) bag of decaffeinated coffee.
• 1 (one) jar of mustard
• 1 (one) concentrated broth
• 1 (one) salt bottle
• 1 (one) powder box for chocolate
• 1 (one) bottle with parmesan cheese.
• 1 (one) lemonade
• 1 (one) powder for lemonade
• 2 (two) boxes of cocoa