OSCE strengthens aviation security in Moldova through expert assessment, equipment donation, and UK donor visit

From 14 to 18 July 2026, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department conducted a needs assessment of air cargo and mail security arrangements at Chișinău International Airport. The assessment was accompanied by the donation of specialized aviation security consumables to the General Inspectorate of Border Police of the Republic of Moldova and a visit by representatives of the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The activities were organized under the OSCE extrabudgetary project “Support to the Law Enforcement Agencies in Moldova in Response to the Security Challenges in the Region” and highlighted continued co-operation among Moldovan authorities, the OSCE and international partners to strengthen aviation security and Moldova’s resilience to transnational threats.

During the five-day assessment, an international aviation security expert reviewed the legal, regulatory and operational framework governing cargo and mail security at the airport. The assessment covered the recruitment and training of personnel, quality-control and certification systems, cargo acceptance and screening processes, testing and maintenance of security equipment, protection of screened cargo, chain-of-custody arrangements and airport perimeter security.

The expert also met representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority, Chișinău International Airport, cargo-handling entities and the General Inspectorate of Border Police to examine institutional responsibilities and inter-agency co-operation. The findings will inform the roadmap for strengthening cargo and mail security and advancing the airport’s readiness for future Regulated Agent certification in line with international aviation security requirements.

On 15 July, the OSCE handed over aviation security consumables valued at €18,735 to the General Inspectorate of Border Police for use by the Border Police Sector at Chișinău International Airport. The donation included sample swabs, vapour-sealing gaskets, air-purification cartridges and membrane assemblies for SABRE 4000 and SABRE 5000 trace-detection systems.

“These consumables will help our officers maintain the continuous and effective operation of security-screening equipment at Chișinău International Airport,” said Mr. Veaceslav Scurtu, Deputy Head of the Border Police Office at Chișinău International Airport. “Together with the ongoing assessment and training support, this assistance contributes to stronger operational procedures and safer air transport.”

The donation was presented during a show-and-tell visit organized for representatives of the UK FCDO to demonstrate the impact of UK-supported assistance provided through the project. The delegation met representatives of the General Inspectorate of Border Police and Chișinău International Airport’s Aviation Security Department to discuss operational preparedness, inter-agency co-operation and airport security priorities.

The delegation also received an update on the cargo and mail security assessment and exchanged views with Moldovan counterparts on remaining capability gaps and future capacity-building priorities. The programme concluded with a presentation by the Border Police K9 unit on the role of detector dogs in aviation security and the prevention of illicit trafficking, including a practical demonstration of K9 capabilities.

“The visit demonstrated how the UK support is being translated into practical improvements in Moldova’s aviation security capabilities,” said Ms. Anna Rosenberg, Regional Deputy Development Director for the Eastern Neighborhood, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the UK. “It was valuable to hear directly from Moldovan partners, see the equipment in use and discuss how future assistance can respond to their operational priorities.”

By bringing together a detailed analysis of current needs, the provision of essential operational supplies and direct engagement with the project’s donor and beneficiaries, the activities demonstrated a shared commitment to strengthening aviation security, institutional preparedness and Moldova’s capacity to address transnational organized crime.

The project is funded by Finland, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States.