Police officers and forensic experts in the Republic of Moldova are strengthening their ability to investigate cybercrime, including cases of online child exploitation, through access to state-of-the-art investigative equipment and advanced technological solutions worth more than US$780,000. The support was provided with funding from the U.S. government, as part of a project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

During 2024 and 2025, under the project “Support Police Capacity Building in the Field of Public Order and Cybercrime in Moldova”, the police received three three-year licenses for the Cellebrite product suite. The solution enables rapid and efficient data extraction from seized mobile devices, regardless of operating system, significantly reducing criminal investigation time. The software automatically identifies and prioritizes devices relevant to a case. Moreover, digital evidence can be easily and securely shared among investigators and departments, accelerating the completion of case files.

At the same time, the Cybercrime Investigation Center of the National Investigation Inspectorate received ten-year access to the LACE software, a digital solution designed for the fast and secure processing of digital evidence, including images and videos. The software offers advanced facial recognition capabilities, visual similarity analysis, and tools for identifying links between cases, and is used in particular in child pornography cases.

To further strengthen the processing capacity of the cybercrime investigation infrastructure, the U.S. government through UNDP is also providing 15 high-performance computers and other relevant IT equipment to help the efficient use of the needed software solutions.

The donations were given to the National Investigations Inspectorate (Center for Combating Cybercrime and Center for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings) and the Police Forensic Center of the General Police Inspectorate.

In the upcoming months, U.S. government and UNDP will deliver two three-year licenses for a software allowing the examination of digital evidence from mobile, cloud, computer, and vehicle sources, alongside third-party extractions all in one case file. It uses powerful and intuitive analytical tools to automatically surface case-relevant evidence quickly. All these will be accompanied by training on cybercrime topics.

“In the current context of security challenges, the support of partners and donors is essential for strengthening the capabilities of the police. Equipment and investments in training directly contribute to increasing the efficiency and safety of police work. We thank our partners and donors for their support and for the trust they have placed in the General Police Inspectorate,” said Viorel Cernăuțeanu, Chief of the General Police Inspectorate.

“The advanced systems and software we are providing will significantly enhance Moldova’s capacity to investigate, trace, and disrupt transnational cybercrime networks that target both Moldovan and American citizens,” said Nick Pietrowicz, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Moldova.

“We are happy that the UNDP - U.S. government partnership contributes to faster, more accurate, and safer criminal investigations, so as to combatting transnational organized crime. This means safer countries, safer communities and builds trust and social cohesion,” said Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.

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.