The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), in partnership with Moldova's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), successfully organized the training event "Preventing and Countering Online Drug Sales in the Republic of Moldova". The training took place at the General Police Inspectorate in Chișinău from June 25 to 28, 2024, and was attended by 17 Moldovan law enforcement officials. These included senior officers and investigative specialists from multiple national agencies such as the Chișinău Police Department, the Anti-Drug Directorate, the Analytical Investigation Directorate of the National Investigation Inspectorate, the General Prosecutor's Office, and the Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases.
The increasing complexity of drug trafficking and illicit drug use, along with evolving criminal methods involving social media, encrypted communications, the internet, and the darknet, necessitates a continuous update to the skill sets of law enforcement officers. This training covered a wide range of essential topics, including dark web investigation, cryptocurrency tracking, and Open-Source Intelligence techniques and tools (OSINT).
Expert speakers from various international organizations and law enforcement agencies led the sessions. These experts included cybercrime and narcotic crime experts from the National Police of Ukraine, the Public Security Police of Portugal, the U.S. Department of Justice, the European Investment Bank, and private sector entities such as Binance, Chainalysis, and Web-IQ. The training sessions featured case studies and practical exercises, offering participants hands-on experience with the latest tools and techniques.
All the participants emphasized the importance of this specialized education in preventing and mitigating emerging threats. They also requested that UNICRI organize additional activities to enhance international and regional cooperation in this field.
