LocationsThe Police of the Republic of Moldova modernizes its capacities through cutting-edge digital technologies
September 23, 2025
Photo: UNDP Moldova
Criminal investigations are becoming faster, more accurate, and safer thanks to modern IT solutions and equipment provided with the financial support of the U.S. Government and implemented by UNDP. Over the past year, two institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been equipped with technologies that allow criminal investigators and forensic experts to extract and analyze digital evidence from a much larger number of devices, increasing the efficiency of the criminal investigation process.
90% of mobile phones seized in criminal cases can be decoded
At the Police Forensic Center experts are now able to extract, store, and analyze more data from mobile phones seized during criminal investigations. This is possible due to Cellebrite software, delivered with the support of the U.S. Government and UNDP under the project “Support Police Capacity Building in the Field of Public Order and Cybercrime in Moldova”. The project is financed through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
Now, once a seized mobile phone is connected to Cellebrite, within just a few seconds it is decoded and its messages, locations, and photos appear on the operator’s monitor. To an uninitiated eye, these may look like simple fragments of online life, but for forensic experts they are valuable information, included in judicial expertise reports and often defining the course of an investigation.
More than 1,000 mobile devices are brought to the Police Forensic Center laboratory annually. Each contains information about conversations, travels, or plans that can become critical evidence in criminal cases. If in the past experts could extract data from around 60% of devices, today the success rate has risen to 90% - meaning fewer incomplete case files.
“If we look at the information contained in a mobile device, we can even see the chronology of a person’s life - the places he/she visited, with whom he/she communicated, personal interests. We all know that mobile devices, besides taking pictures and enabling communication, store information that is not obvious at first glance,” explains Ion Gaina, Head of Digital Forensic Division, Police Forensic Center.
Previously, experts spent long hours on manual tasks - from extraction to organizing data. Cellebrite software automates much of the process, as it allows the analysis of huge volumes of information, including from popular applications.
The software also immediately identifies the devices most relevant to a case and prioritizes them. Moreover, evidence can be easily and securely shared between peer experts or departments, accelerating the completion of case files.
IT solutions unlock essential evidence
Another IT solution, called LACE, was provided to the Cybercrime Investigation Center of the National Investigation Inspectorate, also with the support of the U.S. Government and UNDP. LACE contributes to the inspection of visual content (images and videos) and is used especially in cases of child pornography.
Anatolie Budan, Head of Section at the Cybercrime Investigation Center, says the new equipment makes the work of police officers much more efficient:
“Phone manufacturers make access to data difficult, which for us was a major barrier. Now, the unlocking rate has increased by 30–40%. This does not only mean better statistics but also the ability to advance in cases that previously remained blocked. In addition, these solutions guarantee the security of electronic evidence, which is essential for us.”
Processing time has been significantly reduced - from one-two days to just a few hours. All digital evidence collection and analysis activities comply with the Criminal Procedure Code and national and international standards, ensuring their legal validity in courts in the country and abroad.
"In the field of cybercrime, technologies are evolving rapidly. New devices, applications, and security mechanisms are emerging and law enforcement agencies should keep pace in order to access relevant data," emphasizes Anatolie Budan.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Moldovan Police have a long-standing cooperation with the U.S. Government and UNDP. Over the years, several activities have been carried out to strengthen the institutional and professional capacities of Police employees, to ensure a safe environment for every man and woman in the Republic of Moldova and to increase the level of public confidence in the police.
