Moldova urges border upgrades to block Ukraine war arms smuggling
Moldova must urgently invest in border security and high-tech monitoring to prevent criminal networks from using the country as a transit hub for smuggled weapons from Ukraine, a top security official warned.
Serghei Diaconu, head of the National Crisis Management Centre (CNMC), stated that the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine has forced traffickers to reroute their operations. Moldova’s position between the conflict zone and the European Union has made it an attractive corridor for organized crime.
"We have a contingency plan in place to gradually increase our prevention and intervention capacities," Diaconu told TVR Moldova. He emphasized the need for the Border Police and Customs Service to identify illicit shipments before they cross into the EU.
While the security situation remains stable for now, Diaconu insisted that continuous infrastructure investment is vital. "Increasing capacity at Moldova's entry and exit points will ensure safety for our citizens and demonstrate our ability to protect the European Union's borders," he added.
The proposed upgrades include the installation of modern scanners at all Ukrainian border crossings and specialized training for officers to detect sophisticated concealment methods used by modern smugglers. Diaconu also called for increased intelligence sharing with international development partners to dismantle trafficking networks at their source.
Iulian Chifu, director of the Romanian-based Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Centre, echoed these concerns. He noted that border security is a fundamental requirement for Moldova’s European integration and the rule of law.
The security of the border remains a priority for the central government. President Maia Sandu convened the National Security Council on March 23 to analyze measures against rising cross-border crime and to mitigate regional security risks.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
