Moldova Customs revenue exceeds €1B in H1 2026 amid smuggling push
Moldovan customs authorities intercepted over six million contraband cigarettes in the first half of 2026, including 550,000 cigarettes seized during a joint operation with Romanian border officials.
During this period, the Customs Service dismantled four organized criminal groups and launched two criminal proceedings targeting illicit tobacco trafficking. Border checkpoints registered 47 illegal transport attempts, while mobile units intercepted five additional cases.
Record budget revenues driven by import excises
Total customs revenue collected for the state budget reached over €1.04 billion (approx. 20.38 billion MDL) in H1 2026. This represents a 7.2% increase—or EUR 69.4 million—compared to the same period in 2025.
Import value-added tax (VAT) generated the largest share at 68.6%, totaling EUR 713.2 million. Import excises accounted for nearly a quarter of total collection at EUR 255.1 million, up 5.5% year-on-year. Tobacco products, petroleum, and vehicles together made up over 94% of all excise duties collected. Standard customs tariffs contributed an additional EUR 67.3 million.
Crackdown on drug trafficking and high-value smuggling
In anti-narcotics operations, officials initiated 22 criminal cases against illicit drug trafficking through various concealment techniques. To support these efforts, the Customs Laboratory deployed four new analytical testing methods to detect cannabinoids in cannabis-based products.
Enforcement teams also seized unreported cash, precious metals, pharmaceuticals, and auto parts in 139 separate detentions. Officers impounded goods valued at €525,500 (approx. 10.3 million MDL) and confiscated assets worth €158,000. Post-clearance audits of 147 cases generated an extra EUR 882,600 in unpaid duties, while debt recovery actions brought in EUR 1.39 million.
Digital expansion and EU transit integration
Moldova advanced its digital infrastructure on July 1 by deploying the Customs Decisions System (CDS). The portal allows traders to submit and process all 17 national customs applications and permits entirely online.
Travelers can now file digital customs and currency declarations on mobile devices before arriving at border checkpoints. The system issues a unique reference code for inspection, significantly reducing processing times.
Moldova also issued over 17,500 preferential certificates of origin in H1 2026, with more than half supporting exports to the EU. The country processed over 4,700 declarations under the New Computerized Transit System (NCTS) and added five new Authorized Economic Operators (AEO), raising its total to 158 active holders.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
