NAC announces 60 searches nationwide and 15 people detained in a case of illegal financing of political parties, electoral corruption and money laundering
The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and the prosecutors of the municipality of Balti have informed about the carrying out of 60 searches throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova and the detention for 72 hours of 15 people, as part of a large operation targeting alleged acts of illegal financing of political parties, money laundering and electoral corruption in aggravating circumstances. The investigations are being conducted against a group of individuals affiliated with a political party, including decision-makers, members and supporters, who allegedly implemented a criminal plan in the run-up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, 2025.
According to the evidence, the suspects were allegedly involved in recruiting voters and promising them money, goods, services or other benefits in exchange for supporting a particular political party and exercising their right to vote in a certain way. During the criminal investigation, the NAC officers documented several suspicious financial transactions between the group members, including transfers of funds in various currencies, equivalent to approximately 8,500,000 lei, as well as the use of virtual currencies (in the amount of 185,000 USDT) to disguise the illicit origin of the money.
Following the searches, investigators recovered significant amounts of money in various currencies, equivalent to approx. 3,000,000 lei, materials with electoral content, information storage devices, draft documents and other relevant evidence regarding the recruitment and influence of voters.
The NAC specifies that the 15 detained persons are to be placed in the criminal investigation isolation cells available in the country. The procedural actions continue, and other details will be communicated as the investigations progress.
We remind that any person shall be presumed innocent until a final and irrevocable court decision is issued.