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Two men from Chisinau sentenced to prison for smuggling drugs hidden in packages from France

Cristiana Dida

11 November 2026, 09:46

Republic of Moldova

Poliția Republica Moldova / foto: shutterstock.com

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Two men, aged 38 and 39, have been sentenced by courts in the Republic of Moldova to 8 and 10 years in prison, respectively, after being involved in a scheme to illegally bring in and distribute Subutex medication containing the psychotropic substance buprenorphine.

According to the Chișinău Municipal Prosecutor’s Office, the criminal activity took place between 2019 and 2021. One of the defendants, who was in France between January and March 2020, allegedly arranged for parcels containing tablets hidden among clothing and other goods to be shipped. The parcels were transported along the Paris–Cahul–Chișinău route, while the second man received them in the Republic of Moldova.

On March 4, 2020, authorities discovered 84 Subutex tablets packed in 12 blister packs in one of the parcels. Following a controlled delivery, the parcel was transported to Bălți, where one of the defendants was arrested. An expert examination established that the tablets contained 0.672 grams of buprenorphine, an amount classified as an especially large quantity.

The two men denied the charges and were tried in absentia after being placed on a wanted list. The first received 8 years for the illegal circulation of psychotropic substances for the purpose of distribution, while the second, who was also convicted of smuggling, received 10 years. The sentences will be served in closed-type prisons. The rulings may be appealed, and the two benefit from the presumption of innocence until their convictions become final.

Context: The Border Police had previously investigated cases of Subutex smuggling, including from France

Before the convictions in this case, the authorities in the Republic of Moldova had also detained and investigated a scheme involving the smuggling and trafficking of drugs brought from France, with Subutex among the substances seized. In that case, investigators claimed that the drugs were concealed in parcels containing food products, sent by coaches along the France–Chișinău route, and were distributed to consumers in the city after arrival.

Also in the earlier investigation, two suspects were caught red-handed in Chișinău while allegedly trying to sell drugs to an undercover investigator, while the third was detained in the same operation. An international search was requested for the person in France, with a view to their detention and extradition, while the suspects face prison sentences of between 15 and 20 years.