The parties assessed the results of their cooperation and identified the current needs of the Moldovan Customs Service in preventing the illicit movement of nuclear and radioactive materials.
Viorel Doagă, Deputy Director of the Customs Service, emphasized the need to further strengthen the agency’s technical and operational capabilities. The goal is to ensure that customs officers have access to modern tools for detecting such materials and assessing the associated risks.
Among the priorities are the development of monitoring and detection systems, the modernization of technical infrastructure, and the provision of equipment that meets current border security requirements.
However, this goes beyond simply purchasing or installing new technical equipment. Separately, the parties discussed the condition of existing equipment, its maintenance, and restoration to working order. Thus, one area of cooperation is improving the efficiency of using the infrastructure that has already been established.
Another element is the use of technology and information in risk analysis. For the Customs Service, this means a shift toward earlier detection of potential threats, rather than relying exclusively on physical inspections of cargo crossing the border.
Comprehensive Support from the United States
The U.S. side is also prepared to continue providing support for the training of specialists. New training and knowledge-sharing programs were discussed in the areas of operating equipment for detecting radioactive materials, border surveillance, and managing related risks.
NSDD representatives noted the professionalism of Customs Service staff and expressed their willingness to continue working on assistance projects tailored to the needs of the Moldovan agency.
For Moldova, this cooperation is significant not only in terms of technical equipment for customs. Monitoring the movement of potentially hazardous materials is part of the overall border security system, where the state’s effectiveness depends on a combination of equipment, staff training, and the ability to analyze risks.
The NSDD program of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which operates within the U.S. Department of Energy, has been providing assistance to the Moldovan Customs Service since 2011. This support includes the installation of systems for detecting and identifying nuclear and other radioactive materials at border crossing points, as well as methodological assistance.
