The Moldovan Customs Service received 12 smart banknote counting machines donated by Romania. The equipment will be distributed at border customs checkpoints and customs inspectors will be trained on how to use it.
The cash counting machines will significantly increase the operational capacity in combating the illegal introduction of cash and will ensure a stricter control of financial flows at the border, saidAlexandru Iacub, head of the Customs Service.
The donation was funded by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the RoAid Agency, with the aim of strengthening the institutional capacity of the Moldovan Customs Service in the fight against corruption.
During the donation ceremony, the director of the Customs Service thanked Romania for the support, stressing that these pieces of modern equipment will help combat illegal money flows and ensure a transparent economic environment. “The donation will significantly improve our ability to prevent money laundering and secure borders”, said Alexandru Iacub.
Romania’s Ambassador to Moldova Cristian Leon Țurcanu highlighted the importance of this activity in Moldova’s preparations for accession to the European Union. “Effective border control is critical to national security and protection against hybrid threats. The donation not only covers the need for modern equipment at the customs checkpoints, but has a direct impact on the preparation of the Republic of Moldova for the accession to the European Union”, declared the Romanian ambassador.
Meanwhile, the Moldovan Tax Service on Friday received high-performance scanners from the International Bureau for Narcotics and Law Enforcement of the US State Department. Tax Service director Olga Golban said the scanners will support digitization and anti-fraud efforts at the General Anti-Fraud Directorate, thus strengthening institutional transparency and efficiency.
For her part, the Deputy Director of the Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Section within the Office, Janet Boehnlein, stated that this cooperation will have continuity, including the organization of training for the employees of the General Anti-Fraud Directorate of the SFS, in order to benefit from the expertise colleagues in the USA. According to Boehnlein, these donations, coming from Moldova's strategic partners, represent important steps in the modernization and strengthening of Moldova's economic and financial security.