PSD Senator Valer Marian, the vice-president of the Commission for investigating abuse, fighting corruption and for petitions, gave us an interview in which he speaks about the phenomenon of cigarette contraband. He considers that in order to stop the phenomenon a sustained effort from the political class is needed and he announces that he is considering proposing the creation of a parliamentary investigative commission on the issue of contraband.
* Interview with PSD senator PSD Valer Marian the vice-president of the Commission for investigating abuse, fighting corruption and for petitions
Reporter: Mr. Senator Valer Marian, the recent interventions of the customs are shocking both in terms of size, and of their spectacular nature. But how long have we been faced with corruption and contraband on the borders?
Valer Marian: The first mentions of the corruption and contraband in the customs go back to the biblical texts, where customs officers and usurers are mentioned. In Romania, the two phenomena were present during the communist regime as well. Not even that oppressive political regime was successful in completely eradicating them.
Corruption and contraband have always existed in the customs, under all the post-revolution governments, but paradoxically, they expanded after the accession to the EU. Unfortunately we have to the level where the system is completely gangrened, just when we were about to enter the Schengen space.
Reporter: How do you explain that coincidence?
Valer Marian: After the accession to the EU, Romania became the main gateway after the accession to the EU, the main gateway for the entry of illegal products coming in from the Western countries. Through our geographical position, and I am including our access to the Black Sea, the cross border smuggling networks have focused their activity on the terri
