2007 News Archive

Inauguration of the CCTIP. Fact Sheet

April 27, 2007

• On September 6, 2005, the Government of Moldova and the United States signed the third Amendment to the Letter of Agreement on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement of August 28, 2001
  
• The signing of this amendment established a new Government of Moldova inter-agency law enforcement center named the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons (CCTIP).  The CCTIP was formally designated under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.       
  
• The U.S. Government has committed $1.9 million to support the development of the CCTIP, which includes technical assistance, training, and equipment. 
  
• This funding also provides for the creation of a special witness/victim protection program and an international anti-trafficking analytical bureau linking SECI and GUAM countries.
  
• The CCTIP was organized according to a "task force" model, bringing a number of government agencies under one roof.  This enables law enforcement and security service personnel to work together more efficiently, thus leading to greater effectiveness in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking crimes on a local and regional level. 
  
• Personnel from the following agencies have all been assigned to the CCTIP:  the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Office of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Customs Service, National Migrations Bureau, Border Guards Service, Information and Security Service, and Center for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption.  
  
• This project is part of a broader $50 million worldwide anti-trafficking initiative, announced by President Bush at the UN General Assembly in September 2003.  Moldova was one of eight countries selected to receive assistance from this initiative; a total of $5.25 million was allocated to enhance Moldova's capacity to fight trafficking in persons.
  
• The U.S. Government remains committed to providing assistance in the area of law enforcement capacity development to the Republic of Moldova