Constanța Customs Officials Arrested for Bribery & Smuggling Facilitation
A shakeup at the Port of Constanța has landed two former customs chiefs in hot water, with allegations of bribery swirling around the facilitation of import procedures. Lică Octavian Parfenie, the former head of the Constanța Sud Agigea Border Customs Office and his deputy, Christian Gudu, were taken into custody following a sting operation by Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), according to multiple Romanian news outlets.
The arrests, which took place overnight Thursday into Friday, center on accusations that Parfenie and Gudu accepted bribes – ranging from 300 to 700 euros or dollars – to expedite customs clearance and potentially undervalue imported goods. The alleged scheme involved prioritizing certain shipments in exchange for payments from customs brokers, with the potential to significantly impact trade flows through one of Romania’s busiest ports. Info Sud-Est reports the pair are accused of taking bribes to prioritize certain works.
The “Euro Only” Demand
The case took a particularly revealing turn with the surfacing of recorded conversations, where Parfenie allegedly insisted on receiving bribes exclusively in euros. A direct quote captured in the investigation reportedly reveals him stating, “Everything is in euros! I don’t want dollars, I don’t want anything!” This detail, reported by Europa FM, suggests a level of brazenness in the alleged operation and a preference for a currency that offers greater anonymity.
According to sources cited by Ziua de Constanța, the alleged “fees” were levied per container, and delays in payment could stretch customs processing times from three to twenty days. One witness reportedly claimed they were asked to pay 350 euros per container to ensure swift clearance.
A Recent Reinstatement
The timing of the arrests is noteworthy. Parfenie and Gudu were only recently reinstated to their leadership positions at the Constanța customs office last fall, bringing with them experience from previous roles at the helm of customs offices in Prahova and Ialomița counties. This prior experience, while demonstrating a track record of leadership, now casts a shadow over their recent actions. The DNA’s move to detain them so soon after their reinstatement suggests a swift response to emerging evidence of wrongdoing.
The Broader Context: Concerns Over Sanctions Evasion
The investigation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny regarding potential sanctions evasion through Romanian ports. Just this week, reports surfaced concerning a vessel carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the Port of Midia, which was reportedly held up due to a refusal to provide original documentation and discrepancies in import declarations regarding origin, and quantity. Info Sud-Est detailed these suspicions of circumventing sanctions against Russia. While the DNA’s current investigation doesn’t explicitly link the bribery allegations to sanctions evasion, the proximity of these events raises questions about potential systemic vulnerabilities within the port’s customs procedures.
What Happens Next?
Parfenie and Gudu are currently in custody, and the DNA is expected to seek preventative arrest warrants on March 6th. The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors are reportedly examining multiple instances where alleged bribes were delivered, some directly on a hallway near the head of the unit’s office. The case is likely to draw significant attention to the oversight and accountability mechanisms within Romania’s customs administration, and could lead to broader reforms aimed at preventing future instances of corruption. The DNA’s official statement confirms the charges and the ongoing legal process.