Ukraine and the Transnistrian region remain the main sources of illicit weapons flowing into Moldova, President Maia Sandu said after a meeting of the Supreme Security Council focused on tackling cross-border crime.

Summarizing the discussions, Sandu indicated that the ongoing war in Ukraine and the situation in the Transnistrian region are driving the illegal arms trade. Based on international experience, she expects these risks to grow as the conflict continues.

Against this backdrop, the president stressed that Moldova must significantly invest in upgrading its border infrastructure to curb smuggling.

She also pointed out that the fighting in the neighboring country has disrupted established logistics networks. As a result, some illicit suppliers have been forced to reroute their operations, in part through Moldovan territory. The country’s long border with Ukraine, dotted with numerous crossing points, combined with the widespread availability of weapons during wartime, creates additional vulnerabilities.

Another persistent concern, she noted, is the section of the border linked to the Transnistrian region, which is not controlled by Moldova’s constitutional authorities. Cases involving illegal arms trafficking have repeatedly surfaced in public discourse.

One such incident occurred in November 2025, when Romanian authorities reported intercepting a large shipment of weapons that was being smuggled out of Moldova. The investigation found that the ammunition had originated from Ukraine. According to Moldovan media reports, the seized cache included portable air defense systems such as FIM-92 Stinger and Igla, Kornet anti-tank systems, as well as components for attack drones. Prosecutors later уточнили that smugglers had also attempted to move a Geran-2 type drone across the border, stripped of its engine and without a warhead.

The case triggered political tensions внутри страны. The opposition Party of Socialists called for the creation of a parliamentary commission to investigate smuggling routes. However, the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity, which holds a majority in parliament, rejected the proposal.