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  • News article
  • 23 January 2025
  • European Anti-Fraud Office
  • 1 min read

OLAF Conducts Training in Moldova to Strengthen Fight against Circumvention of EU Sanctions

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The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), in collaboration with the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) and Moldovan Customs, delivered a high-level training session in Chisinau aimed at enhancing Moldova’s capacity to combat the circumvention of EU sanctions. 

The training, held on 22 January at the Moldovan Customs Training Centre, brought together experts and officials to address the challenges of enforcing international sanctions. 

The event focused on exchanging best practices, recognising red flags and building on lessons learned. Experts shared their national experiences in combating sanction circumvention, providing insights into effective strategies. Detailed presentations from OLAF highlighted the office’s methodologies for detecting and preventing sanction evasion. The participants also discussed the use of advanced analytical tools and techniques used for monitoring and enforcing sanctions, equipping Moldovan authorities with the skills needed to tackle complex evasion tactics. 

Ville Itälä, Director-General of OLAF, underscored the importance of such initiatives, stating: “Sanctions are a vital tool in defending EU values and maintaining international order. Events like today’s training ensure that enforcement authorities gain the knowledge and tools to combat evasion and uphold the integrity of these measures.” 

The initiative is part of OLAF’s ongoing mission to strengthen international collaboration on the enforcement of EU sanctions. OLAF plays a key role in this process by investigating cases of sanctions circumvention, monitoring trade flows and sharing intelligence with national authorities and international stakeholders. By mapping out suspicious trade routes and identifying operators, OLAF proved crucial in preventing illegal transactions that could support Russia’s military capabilities.

To date the OLAF operation has resulted in the interception of over 237,000 items including telecommunication equipment, electrical circuits, computer chips and routing devices, for a current total value exceeding 3.3 million euro and the seizure of 13 tons of chemical substances.

The successful completion of the training in Chisinau bolsters Moldova’s role as a regional partner in safeguarding EU interests and represents another step in OLAF’s commitment to strengthen capacity among EU neighbours and partners to address fraud and sanctions evasion. 

Details

Publication date
23 January 2025
Author
European Anti-Fraud Office
News type
  • OLAF news article