Moldovan parliament tightens anti-drug legislation: criminal penalties for online promotion too

The parliament today approved, in the first reading, a draft law that provides harsher penalties for drug trafficking and introduces criminal sanctions for promoting prohibited substances online. The initiative was supported by 89 MPs.

The draft was presented in plenum by State Secretary of Interior Ministry Alexandru Bejan, who emphasized the need to adapt the legislation to new forms of trafficking and consumption.

“The draft is based on the National Strategy on the Prevention and Combating of Drugs and highlights the need to strengthen the criminal response, adapted to new routes and ways of trafficking, to combat synthetic drugs and precursors, as well as to boost cooperation between law enforcement authorities,” Bejan said.

The official specified that the document was aligned with European standards:

“The draft was drawn up in accordance with the acquis of the European Union, which sets minimum provisions on offenses and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking.”

According to him, the proposed amendments target tougher sanctions and increased protection for minors:

“It is proposed to aggravate penalties for certain offenses, including through the explicit inclusion of the involvement of minors as an aggravating circumstance. The rewording of the offense of involving minors in the illegal consumption of drugs is meant to strengthen the protection of this vulnerable category.”

Bejan explained that the draft provided a clearer distinction between users and traffickers:

“The restructuring of the articles concerning the illegal circulation of drugs aims to clearly distinguish between acts committed without the purpose of distribution and the ones committed for trafficking purposes, in order to respect the principle of proportionality and avoid excessive punishment of consumers.”

Another important element is the sanctioning of activities carried out online.

“The draft introduces criminal penalties for the use of online platforms for the purpose of promoting or facilitating drugs’ consumption, including in cases involving criminal groups or the use of official position,” the official noted.

The state secretary also said that the document introduced modern mechanisms for investigation and cooperation:

“The range of investigation tools is extended, including for tracking financial flows derived from drug-related criminal activities, and certain categories of cases will be examined as a priority in courts.”

In addition, the draft establishes reporting obligations for medical, educational and social institutions.

“Reporting mechanisms and measures are introduced, in order to eliminate the causes that favor drugs’ use, including sanctions for failure to report,” Alexandru Bejan stressed.

The authorities also propose expanding the list of prohibited substances, in order to include new types of synthetic drugs.

According to statistics data, during the period 2019–2025, more than 7,100 crimes and over 20,000 misdemeanors related to drugs were recorded, in the context of a significant increase in the trafficking of synthetic substances.

The draft is to be examined by the parliament in the second reading. After adoption, the law will enter into force on August 28, 2026.