Officers of the Anti-Drug Directorate and criminal investigators of the National Investigation Inspectorate (INI), with prosecutors from the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), said they seized more than 10 kilograms of drugs brought into Moldova in parcels sent from Spain.[1] The parcels were falsely declared as sweets, panettone and pasta.[2] Two suspects were detained, the General Police Inspectorate said on 9 April.[3]

In the parcels officers found about 7 kilograms of hashish, more than 3 kilograms of marijuana and 1,000 ecstasy tablets.[1] In hiding places in Chișinău they also seized 400 grams of hashish, which investigators said couriers were to collect for sale.[1] The authorities said the operation prevented the distribution of about 12,000 doses.[1]

A 36-year-old man was detained when he came to collect the parcels of food products from Spain, and investigators suspect he belongs to a criminal group that organised the smuggling and sale of the drugs through Telegram.[1] A 23-year-old woman, a passenger on the bus linked to the scheme, was also detained; investigators say her role was to warn the group if the drugs were found during the journey.[2]

PCCOCS prosecutors said they would ask for both suspects to be held in custody while the investigation continues, and those involved are presumed innocent.[1]