Moldova seizes truck with weapons, likely from Ukraine, at border PHOTO

Moldovan investigators have reported that a cache of smuggled weapons, discovered in a truck at the Albita checkpoint on the Romania–Moldova border, is believed to have originated from Ukraine, Newsmaker reports.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the courier—who regularly transported goods by truck from Ukraine—allegedly received the weapons from unidentified individuals on Ukrainian territory.

The seized items included components of ammunition, fully assembled rounds, a ground-to-air launcher, and a Geran-2 drone, reconstructed from several parts following its downing. The drone’s fuselage showed shrapnel damage, its engine was dismantled, and no explosives were found inside.

Investigators suspect that the ammunition was transported in multiple shipments and received in Moldova by accomplices. There is currently no evidence linking the seized weapons to storage facilities within Moldova, including the Cobasna site or National Army depots.

The General Prosecutor’s Office stated that participants in the smuggling scheme falsified official documents. The shipment was declared as “metal products” with Israel listed as the destination. Those responsible for documentation and shipping have been charged and detained.

Earlier, on November 20, Romanian authorities detained a Moldovan driver at the Leușeni–Albita border crossing attempting to transport a truckload of ammunition. Law enforcement officials indicated that the driver was part of an international smuggling network supplying weapons to Israel. The truck contained 18 portable anti-tank missiles, eight grenade launchers, portable air-defence systems, and drone components.

By Khagan Isayev