Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Catalin Predoiu stated on Friday in Constanta that the institution he represents is looking into acquiring autonomous maritime platforms to support surveillance and monitoring missions in the marine environment.

'We have a cooperation agreement with the company in question—through our Coast Guard units—to test these drones, which possess significant surveillance and monitoring capabilities and offer multiple functions. They are being tested because we are considering a Ministry of Internal Affairs program. (...) We are looking into their acquisition,' Predoiu stated at a press conference, adding that the purchases could be made through a component of the European SAFE funding program.

According to him, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) aims to improve its efforts to combat crimes related to migration, smuggling, and human and drug trafficking.

'We are considering a number sufficient to meet our needs for protecting the border (...) against crimes such as illegal migration, smuggling, human trafficking, and drug trafficking—these are our responsibilities,' said Catalin Predoiu.

A demonstration of an autonomous maritime platform designed to support surveillance and monitoring missions in the marine environment—currently undergoing testing—took place recently at the Port of Constanta. This event was part of initiatives led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through the Coast Guard, to identify and evaluate modern technological solutions capable of strengthening maritime border surveillance capabilities and enhancing security within the area of responsibility.

On Friday, Catalin Predoiu attended a working meeting in Constanta regarding the summer season, alongside representatives from all central and local structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, subsequently holding a press conference. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nona Jalba; EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)

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