Seizures amounting to over 11.7 million Moldovan lei have been enforced within Moldova as part of the criminal investigation into the “Interpol” case. Last week, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA), with support from the Criminal Asset Recovery Agency (CARA), confiscated two vehicles valued at approximately 1.2 million MDL. These vehicles are considered criminal assets, allegedly representing part of the bribes paid in a corruption scheme to block INTERPOL Red Notices. These assets are currently managed by ARBI, as announced by Veronica Dragalin, head of the PA, on Thursday, November 21.
This case stems from a joint investigation between Moldova and France initiated in April 2024. The PA is investigating an alleged corruption scheme involving public officials from Moldova and other countries accused of accepting bribes to block Red Notices issued by INTERPOL against internationally wanted criminals.
”In June 2024, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office conducted multiple searches across Moldova, supported by French officers, U.S. FBI agents, and local institutions such as the National Anti-Corruption Center and the National Investigation Inspectorate. Evidence collected from phones, computers, and documents was analyzed, leading to the questioning of dozens of witnesses, suspects, and defendants, with some individuals being detained and placed under preventive arrest,” Dragalin stated.
Additionally, the PA sent international requests for assistance, obtaining evidence from nine foreign jurisdictions to support the investigation.
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According to the evidence collected, a criminal group devised a corruption scheme enabling individuals subject to INTERPOL Red Notices to obtain asylum status in Moldova. This status was used to block and delete Red Notices through bribery of public officials.
The scheme involved a Moldovan lawyer and a former public official with INTERPOL ties, collaborating with a UAE-based company. They submitted falsified documents to INTERPOL, claiming their clients were asylum seekers in Moldova. Simultaneously, asylum petitions were submitted to Moldova’s General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM). Under instructions from the former head of IGM, asylum procedures were initiated unlawfully, even without the physical presence of applicants.
The scheme included falsifying official documents to confirm asylum status, enabling INTERPOL to block Red Notices. Veronica Dragalin, head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA), detailed these findings, highlighting the involvement of public officials.
In recent months, financial investigations by ARBI and Moldova’s Money Laundering Prevention Service uncovered illicit financial flows, bank transfers, and criminal assets. Several assets have been seized, including:
– Residential properties in Chisinau and Vadul lui Voda valued over 9 million MDL.
– Vehicles, including a Range Rover and Toyota Camry, totaling nearly 1.7 million MDL.
– Bank accounts and cash amounting to over €67,000.
At least 26 individuals reportedly submitted false documents to INTERPOL, disrupting criminal investigations in countries like France, Australia, and China. INTERPOL has since unblocked the Red Notices tied to this corruption scheme.
The investigation continues, with significant arrests, including the former head of INTERPOL Moldova, Viorel Tentiu. He was accused of facilitating the scheme in June 2024.