Anti-corruption checkmate still far off

"Where does the dirty customs money go?" wonders Gândul, reporting that "a quarter of the country’s border police have been charged with corruption" — an activity that drains an estimated average of 5,000 euros per day from each of the Romania’s customs posts. In the wake of a crackdown on the Vama Siret border post in early February, the Bucharest daily reports that the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) has closed two border posts and arrested no less than 140 customs agents working on the Hungarian border, who have been taken to Bucharest by helicopter. In view of the scale of the problem,Gândul wonders if the country should consider "importing honest customs agents and perhaps even honest politicians who would be appropriately paid," and questions the role of police unions and the Ministry of the Interior in the illegal dealing. EUobserver.com cites a press release that is critical of the crackdown issued by the Pro Lex police union. According to the union, the government’s approach is like a chess strategy "that attacks pawns" but ignores “rooks” (senior customs officials) and "queens" (politicians who make use of dirty money to finance their campaigns), as well as a largely anonymous “king”. The union further insists that "Romania is not ready for change. The press is unwilling to name the most important pieces in this chess game."