VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCH #0988/01 3580629
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240629Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8694

UNCLAS CHISINAU 000988 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UMB AND INL-LYLE 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR MD
SUBJECT: CHISINAU: INCSR 2009-2010 PART 1 
 
REF: STATE 97228 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
¶1. (SBU) Embassy Chisinau's submission for the 2009-2010 INCSR Part 
I follows: 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Governmental and societal neglect of drug 
trafficking, usage, and associated crime issues is a problem in 
Moldova.  Moldova is an impoverished country susceptible to drug 
trafficking and consumption issues.  The Government of Moldova's 
(GOM) lack of a comprehensive national drug strategy remains a 
shortcoming of Moldovan drug control policy in 2009.  Moldova is a 
party to the 1988 United Nations (UN) Convention against Illicit 
Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and other 
major international treaties in the field of combating narcotics 
related crime.  End Summary. 
 
II. Status of Country 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Moldova is not a major drug-producing country.  Moldova is 
a transit point for drugs destined for Western Europe, although 
information regarding the scale of the transit is incomplete. 
Domestic use of narcotics remains an ongoing concern to the GOM. 
Seizures of recreational drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy 
continue to grow.  Analysis conducted by Moldovan officials suggests 
that the country's illegal drug market will be increasingly targeted 
by sellers of synthetic drugs.  Moldova's proximity to the European 
Union (EU), the low capacity of its law enforcement agencies, and 
its limited control of the territory situated on the left bank of 
the Dniester River, where Moldovan law and by extension national 
drug policy are not applicable, has altogether resulted in the 
increased cultivation of domestically grown narcotics for both local 
use and external distribution outside the country, along with the 
increased import of synthetic drugs, and an increased rate of the 
smuggling of narcotic and psychotropic substances.  However, despite 
these issues, Moldova's drug concerns are not a major domestic 
problem. 
 
III. Country Actions against Drugs in 2009 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) Policy initiatives: The Moldovan anti-drug legal framework 
covers both the fight against illegal drug trafficking and the 
prevention of illegal drug use.  Although the development of a 
national drug strategy was explicitly stipulated in the EU-Moldova 
Action Plan (Article 53), the lack of an adopted national drug 
strategy remains the primary shortcoming of national drug control 
policy.  According to Article 53 of the Action Plan, the GOM had to 
"further strengthen its resolve" in the fight against drug 
trafficking, including the trafficking of essential chemicals and 
precursors.  In addition, action against drug abuse through 
prevention and rehabilitation, was required, in accordance with 
Article 76 of the 1998 EU-Moldova Partnership and Cooperation 
Agreement. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Fulfilment of these objectives was of great importance for 
the GOM in the context of its European integration aspirations. 
According to the European Commission's European Neighbourhood Policy 
(ENP) Progress Report on Moldova (April 2009), "Moldova made no or 
limited progress in the effective implementation of a number of 
reforms which constitute key priorities under the ENP Action Plan. 
This also included the effective implementation and enforcement of 
national strategies in areas such as the fight against drugs.  The 
implementation of anti-drug activities is especially hampered by 
both the lack of trained personnel and the lack of money and 
technical equipment.  The Anti-Drug Department of the Moldovan 
Ministry of Interior (MOI) did not maintain adequate data on drug 
use, although noticeable success was achieved in 2008 with regard to 
seizures.  Drug trafficking remains an issue of serious concern, 
requiring an intensification of inter-agency law enforcement 
cooperation both nationally and regionally.  Prevention and harm 
reduction actions in relation to drug addicts remains to be 
developed in the context of the implementation of an integrated 
approach towards the reduction of drugs' demand and supply". 
 
¶5. (SBU) The EU-Moldova Action Plan was supplemented by Government 
Decision No. 314 of March 17, 2007, containing approval for the 
2007-2009 Action Plan concerning the fight against drug addiction 
and trafficking.  The 2007-2009 Action Plan focused on several items 
including: improving the country's drug-related legal framework; 
establishing educational activities for the prevention of drug use; 
organizing activities to help control drug consumption; and 
informational activities and training for specialised staff.  This 
Decision, however, did not define any measurable objectives and/or 
performance indicators that would allow for evaluation of activities 
prescribed by the Action Plan.  The absence of appropriated 
 
financial support in 2009 also reduced the likelihood of their 
implementation.  Activities that were implemented were funded from 
outside the GOM. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Non-public reports detailing actions taken are submitted 
twice a year, and are supposedly subject to formal discussion and 
review by the Interdepartmental Commission for Drug Addiction and 
Drug Trafficking Control.  Because of the infrequency and 
confidentiality of the reports, public progress assessments are very 
difficult to do.  The Interdepartmental Commission for Drug 
Addiction and Drug Trafficking Control and the Permanent Committee 
on Drug Control are in charge of representing the GOM in the 
struggle against drug addiction and trafficking.  According to Law 
No. 382-XIV of May 6, 1999, and Governmental Decision No. 585 of 
June 19, 2000, the Interdepartmental Commission is a governmental 
structure which develops and coordinates national policy regarding 
narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors; implements 
stipulations of the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on 
Narcotic Drugs, 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic 
Substances, and 1988 United Nations Convention against the Illicit 
Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances; submits draft 
amendments to Parliament regarding narcotic drug control; implements 
programs geared towards drug addiction and drug trafficking control; 
and strengthens the material resources of anti-drug units and staff 
by providing them special equipment, tools, and training. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The members of the Commission are representatives of 
ministries and other central public authorities dealing with 
drug-related issues.  The majority of these programs exists only on 
paper and lack real substance.  In addition, the Commission does not 
have local coordinators, and its decisions are not binding.  The 
Commission held only one meeting in 2009. 
 
¶8. (SBU) In 2009, the GOM amended some of its drug control 
legislation, taking into consideration provisions of United Nations 
drug-related conventions.  In November 2008, some amendments to the 
law were passed specifying that a solution or substance which 
contains a drug defined in Schedule III of the 1961 Single 
Convention on Narcotic Drugs or in Schedule IV of the 1971 
Convention on Psychotropic Substances, that presents no risk of 
abuse and cannot be recovered/amalgamated in a quantity large enough 
for illegal use, in accordance with national legislation, may be 
exempted from otherwise undefined measures of control.  Estimates of 
the national legal demand for illicit narcotic drugs, psychotropic 
substances, and precursors are made by the Permanent Committee on 
Drug Control.  After performing its calculations, this Committee 
submits its estimates to the International Narcotics Control Board 
for approval. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Another recent amendment stipulates that during legal 
transit through Moldovan territory of narcotic drugs, psychotropic 
substances, and/or precursors, route modification can be performed 
only with the permission of the Committee.  The diversion of a 
transiting consignment of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, 
and/or precursors would be considered as export from Moldova, and 
thus should be subject to export requirements.  These new amendments 
also introduce as additional protection the special labeling of 
packages with solutions/substances containing narcotic drugs.  The 
inner package containing a drug or its wrapping bears a clearly 
visible double red band, which must not be present on the exterior 
wrapping of the package.  The new legal amendments also require that 
the sale of narcotic drugs and/or psychotropic substances be 
performed only by licensed legal entities. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Overall, these new legal drug control additions to the law 
help clarify the narcotics licensing procedure (issuance, 
suspension, withdrawal of licence).  The state authority which 
issues the licences for such narcotics is the Moldovan Licensing 
Chamber. 
 
¶11. (SBU) On January 26, 2009, Governmental Decision No.43 amended 
the list delineating the legal/illegal amounts for narcotic drugs, 
psychotropic substances, and plants that contain these substances. 
This list defines the quantity for every type of drug, psychotropic 
substance, or plant that ultimately serves as a basis for legal 
charges from administrative offence to a more serious charge. 
 
¶12. (SBU) A new Moldovan Administrative Offences Code entered into 
force in January 2009.  This code stipulates clear liability for 
legal persons/entities convicted of drug related administrative 
offences.  The code includes community service as one type of 
sanction for perpetrators.  This new code also abolishes the prior 
practice of arrest for personal drug use.  Drug related 
administrative offences are provided for in Chapter VII: "Offences 
which affect public health, health of individual, and the 
sanitary-epidemiological situation." 
 
¶13. (SBU) According to Article 85 of the Moldovan Administrative 
Offences code, basic drug use is considered an administrative 
offence and not a crime.  The illegal purchase or storage of 
narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances in small quantities 
without intent for distribution, as well as their consumption 
without a medical prescription, is sanctioned with a fine from three 
to 10 conventional units or with up to 40 hours of community 
service. One conventional unit is equal to 20 MDL (approximately 
1.73 USD).  Also of significance is that an individual who 
voluntarily turns in narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, 
and/or intends to seek out of his/her own free will, health care 
assistance related to drug usage or dependency, is exempted from 
legal sanction. 
 
¶14. (SBU) In July 2009, the Interdepartmental Commission for Drug 
Addiction and Drug Trafficking Control examined a draft National 
Anti-Drug Strategy for 2010-2017.  Impetus for the draft came from 
Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova against Drugs (BUMAD) Programme 
assistance and involved experts and specialists from different 
ministries, agencies and representatives of civil society, working 
in this field.  BUMAD is a technical assistance program financed by 
the European Commission and implemented by the United Nations 
Development Program (UNDP) in Moldova from January 2003 to March 
¶2009.  The Czech Republic's experience was used as a basis for this 
process in Moldova as it was considered to have been successful. 
The MOI's Internal Affairs Department eventually took the leading 
role in this process, and was responsible for promotion and 
coordination of the draft on the national level amongst other 
ministries and agencies. 
 
¶15. (SBU) The draft of National Anti-Drug Strategy now includes 
requirements that EU candidate countries are theoretically required 
to meet as a condition for successful accession to the EU.  These 
include: a national drug policy strategy with action plan ensuring a 
complex, inter-disciplinary, and balanced approach towards drug 
issues; functional mechanisms of coordination of inter-disciplinary 
activities of drug policy; and an institutionalized and operational 
National Drug Inspectorate.  This requirement is based on the 
comprehensive, evidence-based, and balanced application of three 
basic complementary strategies of modern drug policy: drug supply 
reduction, drug demand reduction, and risk (harm) reduction. 
 
¶16. (SBU) The National Anti-Drug Strategy will have two principal 
objectives: to decrease drug trafficking to and through Moldova and 
the supply and availability of all types of drugs, and to decrease 
the use of all types of drugs. It was planned that the draft of the 
National Anti-Drug Strategy would be considered and approved by the 
GOM in 2009.  However, because of political instability which 
affected Moldova after the April 2009 elections, and the country's 
inability to install a government before September, it is most 
likely that the approval of the National Anti-Drug Strategy will be 
postponed until 2010. 
 
Law Enforcement Efforts 
----------------------- 
 
¶17. (SBU) Combating narcotics related crime is one of the major 
priorities for Moldovan law enforcement agencies.  Police, customs 
officials, and border guards cooperate in counter-narcotics 
activities.  The MOI's Anti-Drug Unit is a 16-person specialized 
police unit responsible for the prevention and combating of 
drug-related crime nationwide.  Their primary mission is to 
dismantle organized criminal groups and networks of drug 
traffickers, rather than dealing with individual persons.  In 
addition to these full time counter-narcotics officers, there were 
65 other police officers nationwide combating drug-related crime. 
These 65 officers work within Criminal Police Sections at all local 
police stations situated in different regions of the country.  The 
officers do not report to the Anti-Drug Unit and do not work solely 
on drug issues.  Anti-drug activities overall were hampered by the 
lack of a sufficient number of specialized police officers and the 
lack of financial means and technical equipment. 
 
¶18. (SBU) In order to detect the illicit smuggling of drugs, the 
Moldovan MOI, Border Service, and Customs Service and their 
Ukrainian counterparts carried out two joint special operations 
entitled "NIKONII".  The joint operations were performed from April 
29 to May 13, 2009 and from September 2 to September 16, 2009, with 
the participation of EUBAM (EU Border Assistance Mission to Ukraine 
and Moldova).  From June 22 to June 26, 2009, Moldovan law 
enforcement agencies in cooperation with their counterparts from 
GUAM member-states participated in joint special operation 
"NARCOSTOP-2009."  From April 14 to April 18, 2008 the same 
operation had been conducted among law enforcement agencies from 
SECI member states.  Regional joint law enforcement 
operations/investigations, exchange of operative data, and other 
joint activities in the field of countering drug trafficking, 
especially those performed in the framework of SECI, reportedly 
proved to be very helpful to Moldovan law enforcement. 
 
¶19. (SBU) According to data provided by the MOI's Internal Affairs 
Department, 2,103 drug related crimes were registered by law 
enforcement authorities in 2008, representing a decrease of two 
percent compared to 2007 (2,147 offences).  In the first nine months 
of 2009, Moldovan authorities registered 1,542 drug-related crimes, 
compared with 1,747 cases registered during the same timeframe in 
2008, which represented a decrease of 11.3 percent. The trend of a 
slight decrease in drug-related criminal offences has been observed 
for the last six years. 
 
¶20. (SBU) Districts in the north of the country closer to the 
Ukrainian border registered a higher number of drug-related crimes, 
especially those regarding cannabis and poppy cultivation.  The 
municipalities of Chisinau and Balti are the main illegal drugs 
markets in the country.  In 2008,72.7 percent of criminal 
proceedings on charges of drug trafficking were referred to court, 
compared to 82.8 percent in 2007.  In the first nine months of 2009, 
1,109 criminal proceedings on charges of drug trafficking 
(representing 71.9 percent of the total number of registered drug 
related crimes) were sent to court. 
 
Corruption 
---------- 
 
¶21. (SBU) As a matter of government policy, the GOM does not 
encourage or facilitate production, shipment, or distribution of 
illicit drugs or the laundering of illegal drug proceeds.  However, 
corruption is a serious problem within both Moldovan government and 
society.  The Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption 
(CCECC) is a specialized law enforcement agency responsible for the 
prevention and combating of corruption, including money laundering 
related to narcotics.  Some Moldovan civil society representatives 
have accused the CCECC of a lack of transparency and political bias 
regarding its investigations, although not specifically in regard to 
narcotics cases. 
 
Agreements and Treaties 
----------------------- 
 
¶22. (SBU) The GOM is a party to the 1988 UN Convention against 
Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances; the 
1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances; the 1961 UN Single 
Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1972 Protocol amending the 
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; and the 2003 UN Convention 
against Corruption.  The GOM is also a party to the 1959 Council of 
Europe Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and its 
1978 protocol; the 1999 Council of Europe Criminal and Civil Laws 
Conventions on Corruption; and the 2003 additional protocol to the 
Criminal Law Convention.  The GOM has also been signatory to other 
UN, Council of Europe, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), 
Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Moldova (GUAM), Southeast European 
Co-operative Initiative (SECI), and BSEC multi-lateral treaties in 
the field of combating crime.  Moldovan law enforcement agencies 
also cooperate with their foreign counterparts on basis of bilateral 
or inter-ministerial agreements. 
 
¶23. (SBU) In 2008, the Moldovan Parliament ratified the 1989 Council 
of Europe Anti-Doping Convention and its 2002 additional protocol, 
as well as the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in 
Sport.  In 2009, the Moldovan Parliament also ratified the 2003 UN 
Convention on Tobacco Control and the 1982 UN International 
Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods. 
During the reporting period, international cooperation in the field 
of countering drug trafficking was most active at the CIS level. 
 
Cultivation/Production 
---------------------- 
 
¶24. (SBU) Moldova is an agriculturally fertile nation with a climate 
favorable for cultivating cannabis and poppy plants.  Authorities 
regularly seize and destroy illicitly cultivated plants.  Cannabis 
and poppy cultivation is a source of income for the local population 
in some rural areas.  According to the MOI's Internal Affairs 
Department, these drugs are primarily produced for local usage, but 
are also smuggled to neighbouring countries such as Ukraine and 
Russia.  Synthetic drugs such as ecstasy are imported from several 
EU countries.  Moldova is the poorest country in Europe.  The import 
of expensive drugs (e.g., heroin and cocaine) is rarely detected and 
seizures are usually of only small amounts.  The frozen 
"Transnistrian" conflict and the lack of control over Moldova's 
eastern border create favorable conditions for cultivation of drugs 
and drug trafficking via this border. 
 
¶25. (SBU) Each summer, the MOI launches a special law enforcement 
operation, called "Operation Poppy,"  aimed at combating illicit 
cultivation of narcotics.  In 2009, as a result of "Operation 
Poppy", 555 criminal proceedings were initiated on charges of 
illegal cultivation of cannabis and poppy plants.  Authorities 
unearthed 406 cannabis plots totaling 70,752 cannabis plants along 
with 149 poppy plots totaling 40,665 poppy plants.  All were 
destroyed and 351 persons were arrested. 
 
Drug Flow/Transit 
----------------- 
 
¶26. (SBU) Seizures of illicit narcotics and psychotropic substances 
in 2009 continued to indicate that Moldova remains primarily a 
transshipment country.  Information provided by the Anti-Drug Unit 
of the MOI in 2009 indicates that drugs reach Moldova from the 
following countries: cocaine from Costa Rica and Spain; ecstasy from 
Belgium and the Netherlands; heroin from Turkey, Russia, and 
Ukraine; and amphetamines from Poland and Russia. 
 
¶27. (SBU) Locally cultivated marijuana and poppy straw are exported 
mostly to neighbouring countries such as Ukraine and Russia. 
According to existing data, Moldova is a transit point for drugs 
destined for Western Europe and potentially the U.S. as well. 
 
Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶28. (SBU) At the regional level, raional Education and Youth 
Departments develop their own yearly activity plans to prevent drug 
use in school-age children.  The existing reporting system does not 
allow for a detailed analysis of the activities implemented. 
"Anti-Drug" lessons are taught in schools.  NGOs consider these 
plans to be inefficient and obsolete.  The MOI also took part in 
activities designed to prevent drug use in pre-university 
educational institutions primarily through visiting and talking to 
classes directly. 
 
¶29. (SBU) In February 2009, several amendments to the 2001 Law on 
the Control and Prevention of the Abuse of Alcohol and Illegal Use 
of Drugs and other Psychotropic Substances entered into force, 
including provisions such as the requirement that driving schools be 
obliged to provide in their curricula an eight-hour anti-alcohol and 
anti-drug course.  Since the establishment of the National Drug 
Inspectorate, many efforts have been made to improve the quality and 
availability of the data related to drugs.  In 2008, for the first 
time, a General Population Survey studying psychotropic substances 
and related attitudes was conducted to estimate the prevalence of 
substance abuse among 15-64 year olds living on the right bank of 
the Dniester River.  According to its results, cannabis is the most 
widely used drug.  As of 2008, 3.4 percent of Moldovans had used 
marijuana/hashish at some point in their lifetimes and 0.9 percent 
had done so in the last year.  Only 0.3 percent of respondents used 
cannabis in the previous month.  Usage of marijuana/hashish is 
almost thirteen times higher in males (6.5 percent) than in females 
(0.5 percent).  According to the ESPAD survey, also conducted for 
the first time in 2008, the prevalence of cannabis use in 
16-year-old children reached 4.8 percent.  In both surveys, other 
illegal drugs registered considerably lower rates of use.  In 
Moldova, there are still no reliable estimates for the number of 
Injection Drug Users (IDU).  In 2009, an Integrated Bio Behavioural 
Survey is planned to be conducted in order to estimate the number of 
IDUs. 
 
¶30. (SBU) Moldova has a national system for collecting data on 
people who use illegal drugs based almost exclusively on counting 
the number of cases which enter voluntarily or involuntarily into 
relevant governmental institutions.  Registration with relevant 
public institutions implies the disclosure of one's identity in the 
great majority of cases.  Police work is increasingly aimed at 
fighting drug use and trafficking at entertainment facilities which 
has led to a growth in the number of newly registered cases of drug 
use for recreational purposes (marijuana, ecstasy).  As of January 
1, 2009, 8,390 people were officially registered as drug users on 
the right bank of the Dniester River.  During 2008, 1,138 newly 
registered cases of drug use on the right bank of the Dniester River 
were entered into the database, compared to 2007's figures of 928 
out of 1,138 involved in non-addictive usage (mainly cannabis usage) 
while 210 were considered addicts (primarily opiate users).  During 
2008, in Moldova's penitentiary system, 683 prisoners (10 percent of 
all prisoners) were considered drug users (both registered and 
suspected). 
 
¶31. (SBU) Detoxification as recommended by the World Health 
Organization (WHO) is available within specialised medical 
institutions in Chisinau and Balti.  Private health care 
institutions are also authorised to offer detoxification treatment. 
Detoxification is included in the minimum package of health care 
services covered by the National Health Insurance Fund, which 
applies only for insured people (those employed by the government, 
those who had purchased the health insurance on their own, or had 
been insured by the state, e.g. students, school pupils, the 
disabled, and those officially registered as unemployed). 
Detoxification for the uninsured is not provided for free, excluding 
cases of deep social vulnerability.  If insured patients do not wish 
to disclose their identity, they must pay for the detoxification 
too, since the use of the medical insurance policy rules out 
anonymity. 
 
¶32. (SBU) There is no formally structured, integrated approach to 
treatment for drug addiction in Moldova.  The after-care and 
reintegration system is underdeveloped.  There are no known donors 
interested in supporting such activities either.  In 2007, the first 
Center of Rehabilitation for drug addicts was created in the 
Republican Narcotics Dispensary in Chisinau.  The Center works on an 
outpatient basis.  Persons who are drug-addicted are treated 
according to medical indicators, at the patients' request, and on 
the basis of referrals issued by psychiatrist-narcologists from the 
outpatient sector, but with the patient's consent.  For insured 
persons, all services are free of charge. 
 
¶33. (SBU) Once discharged from the hospital after detoxification, 
those patients who are not referred for different reasons to the 
rehabilitation centre may be invited to continue treatment in 
rehabilitation and reintegration programs offered by different local 
NGOs, or to even go outside the country for treatment.  The 
advantage of local NGOs is that they offer free-of-charge services 
on an anonymous basis. 
 
 
¶34. (SBU) The implementation of Harm Reduction Strategy in Moldova 
started in 1997.  An agreement between the Ministry of Health and 
the Soros Foundation-Moldova was signed on May 8, 2003.  According 
to this agreement, the Soros Foundation-Moldova would develop a 
network of NGOs and public institutions implementing activities to 
prevent the spread of HIV among high risk groups.  The GOM did not 
fund harm reduction activities to date.  Basic components of harm 
reduction programs for IDUs are as follows: informational and 
educational outreach about HIV and ways of preventing it in the 
context of high risk practices (distribution of informational 
materials, condoms, workshops); referral to medical and social 
services (offering medical counselling, usually for sexually 
transmitted infections, psychological counselling, pre- and post-HIV 
test counselling); needle/syringe exchange; and 
substitution/maintenance treatment using methadone as the key 
pharmaceutical medication. 
 
¶35. (SBU) The basic components of the harm reduction programmes for 
IDUs within the penitentiary sector are as follows: 
information/education/outreach about HIV and ways of preventing it 
in the context of high risk practices (distribution of informational 
materials, condoms, workshops), needle/syringe exchange; 
substitution maintenance treatment using methadone as the key 
pharmaceutical. 
 
¶36. (SBU)Activities for inmates are conducted primarily by the 
medical services of the penitentiary institutions.  In 2008, within 
the framework of the implementation of harm reduction programs, the 
information component was implemented with materials distributed and 
workshops on HIV/AIDS prevention held in all 18 penitentiary 
institutions.  Needle exchange programs started functioning in seven 
of them, operating and open 24/7.  At the end of 2008 substitution 
(methadone) treatment was available in five prisons.   According to 
the NGOs' internal rules for following up their Harm Reduction 
services' clients, every beneficiary of these projects receives an 
anonymous identifier number.  The formula used to generate this 
identifier differs from one project to another, and no information 
system exists for processing the data collected.  In 2008, the 
development of unified software was started.  This software is 
planned to be provided for free to NGOs and relevant governmental 
institutions as well.  In 2009, implementation had finally started. 
 
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
---------------------------------------- 
 
Bilateral Cooperation 
 
¶37. (SBU) The GOM and the USG cooperate on law enforcement and 
counter-narcotic issues on basis of the Letter of Agreement on 
Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, signed on August 28, 2001, 
along with amendments to this letter, providing additional funding 
to support activities designed to create sustainable improvement to 
the rule-of-law and to the operational capabilities of Moldova's law 
enforcement agencies. 
 
¶38. (SBU) Ongoing USG-provided training and provision of equipment 
are designed to improve the ability of Moldovan police to 
investigate and dismantle organized crime and narcotics enterprises. 
 The DEA's office in Vienna is responsible for drug enforcement 
assistance to members of Moldova's drug unit within the MOI.  Direct 
communication between the DEA and Moldovan officers is common and 
most usually in the form of investigative and operational 
assistance. 
 
¶38. (SBU) The USG also offers assistance in customs and border 
control, with programs specifically aimed at strengthening Moldovan 
border control.  During 2008, the USG financed basic and specialized 
law enforcement training programs via the Department of State's 
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), 
which included narcotics enforcement modules.  INL also supported 
the GOM through the donation of equipment in 2009.  These programs 
focused on enhancing techniques related to combating corruption, 
money laundering, illicit drug trafficking, and organized crime. 
Seventeen employees of Moldovan law enforcement agencies attended 
the International Law Enforcement Academy in Hungary during 2009. 
 
¶39. (SBU) Amendment 9 to the Letter of Agreement on Narcotics 
Control and Law Enforcement between the GOM and the USG was signed 
on September, 22 2009.  One of the goals of this project is to 
modernize Moldovan law enforcement by improving its ability to 
investigate and effectively prosecute serious crimes that stem from 
transnational organized crime.  Using a variety of USG law 
enforcement agencies (DEA, FBI, FLETC, etc.), training courses will 
be provided to meet EU-Moldova Action plan goals linked to combating 
organized crime.  Specialized training will be implemented in the 
areas of financial crime, money laundering, cyber crime, general 
forensics investigations, border security, interdiction, 
transnational narcotics trafficking, and law enforcement leadership 
and management.  Actions to be taken by the USG include the 
provision of targeted skills development training and appropriate 
materials to Moldovan law enforcement.  Actions to be taken by the 
GOM include the allowance of appropriate law enforcement personnel 
to receive training and technical assistance. 
 
The Road Ahead 
-------------- 
 
¶40. (SBU) The USG and the GOM will continue to work together through 
USG-sponsored assistance programs to help improve the ability of 
Moldovan law enforcement to create sustainable improvement in the 
rule of law and in the operational capabilities of Moldova's law 
enforcement agencies.  Successful collaboration of the GOM with 
international law enforcement and political entities in combating 
transnational organized crime involving narcotics will yield great 
results for the USG, the Moldovan government, and the Moldovan 
people. 
 
 
MICHELI