PHOTO Moldovan capital hosts first regional conference in customs anti-fraud sector

Chisinau, 23 November /MOLDPRES/ - The first high-level regional conference in the customs anti-fraud sector titled, Risks of Cross-Border Criminality in an Open Europe – Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions, was held in Chisinau today. The event was organized by the Customs Service, with the support of the EU Delegation in Moldova.   

Attending the conference were representatives of the parliament, government, European Union’s Delegation in Moldova, ambassadors, leaders and representatives of customs administrations, border services, police and of other public authorities from Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, representatives of international organizations and of the business environment.   

Head of the EU Delegation in Chisinau, Ambassador Janis Mazeiks said the event served as a platform of dialogue for consolidating the cooperation between the law-enforcement agencies from Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, especially as regards the counteraction of the cross-border criminality. ‘’The trafficking of weapons hits the country’s safety. The crimes need a unified answer national and internationally and the sharing of the practices will strengthen the preparation of the key factors in the fight against criminality and preserving of peace. In the context, the adjusting of the legislation with the EU’s one and the cooperation with the member states is extremely important,’’ the official said.     

For his part, Interior Minister Adrian Efros said that, at present, the cross-border crimes represent a challenge which affects the state’s security. ‘’The subject needs a coordinated approaching with Moldova’s partners. We should intervene to minimize the risks; therefore, an integrated management of the border is necessary,’’ Adrian Efros added.    

At the same time, Head of the Customs Service Igor Talmazan noted that the today’s event represents an inter-state working platform. ‘’With the starting of the war in Ukraine, more problems have appeared, among which the cross-border flow. Thus, on this difficult period, the cross-border cooperation and the inter-institutional one can counteract the organized crime. The today’s conference is an important platform of work, exchange of experience and information,’’ Igor Talmazan stressed.      

During those three panel of discussions, and namely, Contraband with excisable goods and illegal production and illicit financial flows, Cross-border trafficking of weapons, assets with double use, Trafficking of drugs, precursors or drugs and anabolic steroids, the participants were able to tackle the changing tendencies in terms of criminality and to identify new ways of inter-institutional cooperation, in order to improve the operational actions carried out jointly.       

The conference will represent, also in the long run, a traditional platform of dialogue, where the participants will have possibility to communicate, exchange experience and good practices, to identify solutions to subjects of common interest, as well as to develop new partnerships.