Moldovan police detained three residents of Chișinău and Criuleni district, aged 36, 40 and 46, who had organised five underground drug-production laboratories.[1] The three men were detained for 72 hours.[1] Four of the laboratories were set up in the suspects’ own homes and one in a rented warehouse.[1] The special operation uncovered five marijuana-growing laboratories fitted with modern equipment.[1] The operation was carried out with the support of the Fulger special forces unit.[1]

In 10 searches officers seized 169 marijuana plants still in the growth stage and about 1.5 kg of dried drug product.[1] The searches also produced growing and processing equipment, cash from drug sales, bank cards issued by Russian banks, a car used in the criminal activity, a GSM signal jammer and a modified firearm.[1] Nokta put the value of the drugs and raw material seized at more than 7 million lei.[1] A second account said 35 kg of marijuana, estimated at over 7 million lei on the black market, was taken from the five clandestine laboratories in Chișinău and Criuleni.[2]

IPN described the three suspects as aged between 36 and 46, suspected of running the illegal activity with state-of-the-art equipment.[3] IPN reported that officers also seized cultivation and processing equipment, money from drug sales, bank cards issued in Russia, a GSM signal jammer and a modified homemade weapon.[3] The three suspects were held for 72 hours and faced 7 to 15 years in prison if charged and found guilty of drug trafficking.[3] Police said the investigation was continuing and officers were checking the detainees’ possible links to other criminal groups.[1]