Officers of the Security and Intelligence Service documented the activity of two persons who, illegally, traded online special technical devices for clandestine collection of information.
Therefore, the Security and Intelligence Service jointly with the Botanica Sector Prosecutor's Office and Botanica Police Inspectorate of the General Police Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, conducted a series of searches at the homes of the persons named in the case. Consequently, officers seized 40 devices and accessories for clandestine collection of information, such as: photo/ audio/ video recorders, GPS tracking systems for pinpointing the location of vehicles, and other gadgets for restricted civilian use.
The production and distribution of such devices generate a series of vulnerabilities to national security as a result of possible unauthorized access to information related to the activity of law enforcement bodies and significant breach of human rights, especially the right to private and family life, as well as freedom of secrecy of correspondence.
We remind you that, according to art. 3 lett. a), b) of the Government Decision No. 100 of 09.02.2009, import, export, design, production and marketing of special technical devices can be carried out exclusively by two categories of legal entities, namely the authorities empowered by law to carry out special investigation activity, as well as Moldova-based legal entities that hold an activity licence.
If the persons named in the case are proven guilty, they risk a fine of 650 to 850 conventional units, unpaid community service from 200 to 240 hours, or imprisonment for up to 3 years, in all cases with (or without) forfeiture of the right to exercise certain official duties or to engage in particular activity for a period of 1 to 3 years.
The Security and Intelligence Service warns that production, marketing or purchasing for commercial purposes of special technical devices for clandestine collection of information, by unauthorized persons, can lead to misdemeanor or criminal liability.
