New details in the Interpol investigation – criminal charges have been finalized

Evidence accumulated over the past 11 months has established that several individuals, acting in concert as an organized criminal group, were able to block Interpol Red Notices on foreign fugitives from various jurisdictions, including China, France, Australia, Russia and others, by committing multiple corruption and related crimes, such as passive corruption, active corruption and falsification of documents. At least 28 fugitives benefited from this scheme between August 2022 and June 2024.

During the investigation, over 140 people from different countries were identified who may have been illegally checked in Interpol databases as part of this overarching scheme.

In Moldova, this scheme involved two state institutions – the International Police Cooperation Directorate (ICPD) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the General Inspectorate for Migration (GIM) also within the MIA. Specifically, GIM issued false confirmations that the fugitives had asylum seeker status in the Republic of Moldova, even though these individuals had never physically entered the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Subsequently, the ICPD sent false information to Interpol regarding the legal status of these fugitives.

After the Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office executed search warrants on the territory of the Republic of Moldova in June 2024, with support from the French and American authorities, Interpol intervened to unblock the Red Notices regarding these fugitives. In February 2025, based on the information presented by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Interpol intervened to unblock the Red Notice regarding Moldovan citizen, Vladimir Plahotniuc, as well.

In the criminal case, the Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office collaborated with authorities from multiple jurisdictions, including France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. In connection with this case, the Chief Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Dragalin, held meetings in Abu Dhabi with the Emirati authorities to strengthen international collaboration.

Bank records from banks in the United Arab Emirates show bank deposits totaling over €7 million during the period of this scheme, in the interest of a company created specifically for this scheme in the United Arab Emirates. During the same period, October 2022 – May 2024, bank records from banks in Romania show bank transfers between the wives of two members of the organized criminal group, representing bribes paid for the corrupt services in Moldova. In addition, the accumulated evidence demonstrates that during the period 2022-2024, the object of the bribe also included two luxury cars – a Land Rover and a Toyota Camry, transmitted through third parties and family members.

At the moment, the wife of a member of the criminal group and the wife and adult son of another member of the criminal group have the status of suspect.

Today, March 3, 2025, in the role of the leader of the criminal investigation group, the Chief Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Dragalin, signed final charging documents against the former head of the DCPI and the former head of the GIM. Previously, final charging documents were signed against a lawyer and the former President of the Interpol Commission for Control of Files. According to Moldovan criminal procedure, the final charges are to be brought to the attention of the accused in the next 48 hours. In the coming weeks or months, the criminal investigation against these four individuals is expected to be completed.

The Criminal Asset Recovery Agency and Moldovan FIU provided significant support in the financial investigation and collaboration with foreign jurisdictions.

Within the Eurojust joint investigation team, the Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office sent a copy of the entire criminal file to the French authorities, including the video interviews of witnesses and defendants, documents and acts seized during search warrants, reports, and many other pieces of evidence.

At the moment, French authorities also have an active investigation into this international corruption scheme.

The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office fights high-level corruption in all its forms, especially those schemes that jeopardize criminal cases around the world. This joint investigation is proof that international cooperation between law enforcement agencies is essential in detecting and stopping corrupt criminals, who are not limited by national borders. The Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office remains dedicated to this commitment.

Note: A person accused of committing a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.

Contact 
Press Service | Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office 
presaPA@procuratura.md